191C] EDITORIAL. 3 



men bestow upon scientific inquiry. No social advantage can be 

 gained by it. No pecuniary advantage can be gained by it. In most 

 cases no personal distinction can be gained by it. It is one of the 

 few pursuits in life which gets all its momentum from pure intellec- 

 tual ardor, from a love of finding out what the truth is, regardless 

 of all human circumstances — as if the mind wished to put itself into 

 intimate comnumication with the mind of the Almighty itself. There 

 is something in scientific inquiry which is eminently spiritual in its 

 nature. It is the s])iiit of man wishing to sfjuare himself accurately 

 with his environment, not only, but also Avishing to get at the intimate 

 interpretations of his relationship to his environment. . . . 



" So when I stand in the presence of scientific men I seem to stand 

 in the presence of those who are given the privilege, the singular 

 privilege, the almost contradictory privilege, of following a vision 

 of the mind with o[)cn, physical eyes; making real the things that 

 have been conjectural ; making substantial the things that have been 

 intangible." 



This is singularly applicable to those engaged in the various forms 

 of agricultural work. Nowhere does the vision seem to be more alur- 

 ing or the opportunity greater to " make real the things that have 

 been conjectural " and to put this knowledge into tangible, living 

 form. The possibilities and the desire for help stimulate the respon- 

 sive worl^ers to unusual activity and effort. Everywhere these men 

 are found to be carrying a heavy load of teaching in the college, with 

 increasing requirements from regular and graduate students, and 

 subject to almost constant appeals for assistance of a kind which they 

 can not turn over to the extension departments. Despite the more 

 general differentiation and specialization of duties, the station men 

 especially often find themselves loaded with more work than they 

 can prosecute as they would like to, and are led by their enthusiasm 

 to Avork under unusually high pressure. When a man carrying six- 

 teen hours a week of teaching throughout the year voluntarily con- 

 ducts an active line of station investigation, often involving personal 

 hardship in the making of trips, no doubt can remain of his zeal and 

 his determination not to be deterred by circumstances. 



One wonders whether there is another branch of investigation 

 where the problems press so hard and the eagerness for help makes 

 so strong an appeal to the very best there is in men. The field is so 

 inspiring and stimulating, and gives such a vital opportunity for 

 direct service that the men need often to be guarded against over- 

 work or the tendency to lay out more than can be wisely undertaken. 

 In such cases the workers need protection from themselves and their 

 friends, for they can not be constantly turned from their investiga- 

 tions, and they must recognize the limitations to their time and 

 strength. 



