1918] EDITORIAL. 305 



The work of the station is referred to as " one of the most impor- 

 tant departments of the college," and one which has "richly con- 

 tributed to the agricultural wealth of the State." Some suggestions 

 are put forward as to the means of strengthening its research ac- 

 tivities, among others relieving it entirely of the administration of 

 control laws and providing for practically full-time service of its 

 staff on experimental work. 



The commission takes an enlightened view of the conditions and 

 requirements of station work. It maintains that " the main work of 

 the station should be carried on by highly trained experts who give 

 practically all of their time to research. It will be conceded that 

 research work, specially elaborate technical investigations such as 

 are conducted b}^ the experiment station, can be best accomplished 

 by giving them the exclusive attention of the investigator. If the 

 investigator's attention is diverted or interrupted by other work, his 

 progress in his investigations is delayed in even greater proportion 

 than is represented by the amount of time actually lost. . . . To 

 a very limited extent the giving of instruction by the station may 

 be advantageous, and it is perhaps detrimental to separate [station 

 workers] entirely from contact with the ordinary work of the college, 

 but, so far as is feasible, arrangement should be made to prevent 

 their attention being diverted and their important work interrupted 

 by other duties." 



The establishment and maintenance of the graduate school, which 

 "properly completes the work of the undergraduate college" is ap- 

 proved. The necessity for graduate training of specialists is recog- 

 nized, and the provision of ample facilities and funds for its support 

 is recommended. 



The extension service is credited with having contributed much 

 to the development of the farmer and to the agricultural wealth of 

 the State. The desirability of close cooperation with other existing 

 agencies for country-life improvement is set forth, and the commis- 

 sion believes that "the most logical and the most beneficial service 

 the extension department has rendered has been in helping farmers 

 in the improvement of agricultural methods." It recommends that 

 it keep as closely as possible to that form of service, although there 

 is nothing in the report which would preclude the college from 

 studying rural problems in all their bearings. 



The efforts of the college to coordinate its work with that of the 

 State board of agriculture and other organizations interested in 

 agricultural advancement and supported by the State are com- 

 mended. As a further step in this direction the establishment by 

 the legislature of a board for agricultural coordination is advocited. 

 The duty of this board would be " to correlate the agricuitui-al 

 agencies of the Commonwealth, to supervise their respective publi- 



