EDITORIAL. 307 



pletion of the laboratory and its equipment practically marked the 

 end of the productive activity of an investigator of apparent promise. 



Some of the advantages of the small field laboratory over the larger 

 ones were summed up by Mr. Fairchild as follows: The uninter- 

 rupted periods of quiet which are prerequisites to an atmosphere of 

 research; nearness to the plants under observation; possibility of 

 spending easily and without unusual effort the early mornings among 

 plants one is studying: a place to take a colleague and discuss without 

 fear of interruption the problems w^hich one is at work upon. " We 

 are not alone enough it seems to me," he said, " and this suggestion is 

 made in the interest of those who crave time in which to think and 

 be quiet." 



For the best interests of station work, men must be selected because 

 of their love for it and their desire and ability to concentrate effec- 

 tively upon it. The investigator and his problems must be brought 

 together, opportunity and encouragement given to stay together, and 

 concentration and thorough stud}' exj^ected. Then results may be 

 looked for, and if they do not follow after reasonable time, it will 

 be easier to determine where the difficulty lies. 



80967°— No. 4—15 2 



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