EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. 40. April, 1919. No. 5. 



Gradually the men who have been out to war or on special war 

 work are ret inning and taking up their accustomed plates in the 

 Btations. The ranks are being filled again and the stations arc set- 

 tling down to normal conditions. But the experience of the war 

 period will remain with the men and with the institution-. Neither 

 can entirely escape its conscious or unconscious influence, for it in- 

 troduced a new situation, brought a quickened sense of responsi- 

 bility, and aroused a new idea of service. To a certain extent the 

 return of the workers marks a new epoch for them and for their 

 institutions. 



The stations have been represented in nearly every branch of the 

 military and civilian service. Many of their employees were in 

 uniform, often with commissions, others in civilian posts, all largely 

 selected for duties for which their special fitness qualified them. 

 Main 7 were assigned to the sanitary and chemical warfare services, 

 the Ordnance Department, the Signal Corps, and other noncom- 

 batant branches. Others were enrolled in Red Cross work to aid in 

 organizing production abroad or otherwise, and in Y. M. C. A. 

 work of various kinds, including educational work toward the last. 

 A considerable number were associated with the National Research 

 Council, others held responsible positions in the State councils of 

 defense, the Federal and State food administrations, on production 

 committees, and the like. 



As a whole, the representation was a large and varied one, includ- 

 ing specialists in practically every branch of agricultural science. 

 It made a noticeable impression on the ranks of the station forces, 

 and a considerable share of those who remained at home were pressed 

 into various activities not ordinarily in their field. The latter found 

 that it was not necessary to associate themselves with some new 

 organization or to go to some other locality or country in order to 

 render useful service to the country in time of war and recovery 

 from it. If they were alert and ready, there were important things 

 to be done near-by; and the close association with the agricultural 

 colleges around which so many war activities were organized gave 

 exceptional opportunity for getting into these enterprises. 



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