1919] EDITORIAL. 403 



These things have given a consciousness of man's power, of the 

 service of bis vocations to mankind, of almost limitless ability with 

 close application and in association with others to meet extraordi- 

 nary emergencies. They have fired the imagination, and especially 

 they have given a passion for the problems which lie close to human 

 life and welfare. 



Something of these impressions has been shared also by those who 

 remained at their posts and were in contact with or under the spell 

 of the agricultural production campaigns and other civil activities 

 for combating the common enemy. The situation finally took hold 

 of all mankind. It could hardly he escaped. It became a matter of 

 pride to be stirred by it and of zeal to lake even a small part in it. 

 It was everybody's war. 



What then may he the effect of those experiences on the sta- 

 tion forces? What will be their reaction to the problems which 

 lie within their special Holds? What will bo their standards in 

 selecting problems in those fields for individual study? Thov 

 have seen the interdependence of nations and of human beings; 

 they have seen how often the problems make it necessary to cut across 

 department and division boundaries of science and organize the 

 work around the subject and the purpose. Will this make them less 

 individualistic and isolated? Will it broaden their view of the com- 

 mon interest in problems and the opportunity to draw workers to- 

 gether in closer association 1 Will the need for strengthening our 

 groat basic industry through teaching based on investigation appeal 

 to them with now force; and will the fact that the research side 

 must depend on a relatively small group of workers emphasize the 

 responsibility of the individual to make himself and his work as effi- 

 cient and productive as possible? 



The progress of knowledge is a necessarily slow process. Results 

 can rarely be rushed or made to order, and safely is usually more 

 important than haste. Investigation in normal times has not boon 

 carried on under the spur. But a new realization of the vital im- 

 portance of science in food production and of the responsibility rest- 

 ing on a limited group of workers may prove an unusual stimulus. 



Xow that the days of war service are over those who have taken 

 part may find that their thoughts have been turned more largelv to 

 practical ends, and they may fool that these are not more sordid or 

 ignoble in peace than in war. They may be given a larger aptitude 

 for living problems. They may come to see that not only war but life 

 itself is made up of perpetual emergencies, and that " the emergencies 

 of to-day like those of yesterday are both profound emergencies and 

 common emergencies." 



When a man catches the real spirit and significance of agricultural 

 research — the reach of its possibilities, he sees, as Dr. E. J. Russell 



