704 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



In some cases the expense of projects Avas clearly underestimated at 

 the start, and in others provision has had to be made for assistance 

 from other departments not originally contemplated, as chemistry 

 or bacteriology for example, which makes added demands on the 

 fund. Again, the ambition of workers to have connection with this 

 fund has led, it is feared, to increasing the project list beyond what 

 can be carried advantageously. 



These conditions may be responsible in part for the length of time 

 a considerable number of these projects have been under way. There 

 are other factors, of course, and the fact that a project has been in 

 operation a long time should not necessarily subject it to criticism. 

 Often the r< ason is easily found in the nature of the project, frequent 

 change in leadership, and the like. 



( >f the five hundred and thirty-six projects listed under the Adams 

 fund, nearly one-third are now in their tenth season or over, and a 

 considerable additional number are still carried, although tempora- 

 rily suspended. Eighty-seven, or more than one-sixth of the total 

 number, date back to the beginning of that fund, and hence are in 

 their twelfth or thirteenth year. 



In the sense that this points to a large measure of permanence of 

 effort, the attacking of difficult questions not quickly solved, and per- 

 sistence in the attempt to secure lasting results, the condition is highly 

 commendable and represents a marked improvement over earlier 

 years. But the profitableness of long-continued effort is measured 

 by the degree of success and the extenl to which the progress warrants 

 it. If it represenl - adherence to a theme or a plan which has proved 

 impracticable or incompetent, long continuance may indicate bad 

 judgment. If it drifts from year to year without change of outlook 

 or plan, it is either unproductive or docs not take advantage of the 

 progress ami its teachings, It has either become stereotyped or it 

 has proved too ambitious an undertaking and lacks the directive 

 force to bring it to successful issue. In either case i< has become a 

 matter for administrative attention. 



A common reason for questionable longevity of projects is believed 

 to lie in a lack of definiteness in conceiving the project or of concen- 

 tration upon significant parts ; in the attempt to study as a whole sub- 

 jects which are so comprehensive and involved that they are imprac- 

 ticable as unit- of investigation. Even though a subject may be out- 

 lined in quite general term- at the beginning, it is reasonable to ex- 

 pect that the situation will be clarified as the work advances. With 

 the nature of the problem better understood the means of organizing 

 the inquiry will become more evident. The phase may change from 

 time to time, but if the study is systematic, although on a broad topic, 



