1920] EDITORIAL. 5 



l^robably tend to reduce this amount in its strict application to ex- 

 perimental inquiry. 



This revenue, as stated above, has snown practically no increase 

 since 1914, up to which time it was growing steadily. The Adams 

 fund was being added to year by year from 1906 to 1911, and in 

 that time the State appropriations increased considerably over half a 

 million, doubling between the latter date and 1914. It is perhaps 

 cause for congratulation that the funds have been fully maintained 

 during this period of unusual emergency, but it is clear that they 

 do not begin to go as far, even though up to 1919 no very con- 

 siderable increase in salaries had been made. 



It is evident that the stations as a group came to the period of in- 

 flated prices with only a prewar revenue and with very unusual diffi- 

 culties to face, not the least of which was the keen competition for 

 workers. Fortunately some of the States have added to their aj)- 

 propriations in the past year, affording a measure of relief to the 

 stations affected; but the conviction is forced that the great body 

 of them have reached the limit of their ability to maintain a satis- 

 factory output and keep step with the advance in the demands of 

 teaching and extension. 



It is clear from the above that the experiment station system can 

 not properly be judged by the size of its budget, and this is equally 

 true of the size of its staff, as many of those on it are only part time 

 employees. Bare figures give a wrong impression of the amount of 

 experiment and research which reasonably may be expected. It is 

 especially important to avoid any confusion in this regard at a time 

 when the actual pressure for funds is so keenly felt and measures 

 are being considered for supplementing them. 



The experiment stations have a proud record. They have been 

 dominant factors in preparing the way for advancement in agricul- 

 tural education and improved practice. They have not been ex- 

 travagant or prodigal of their allotments, but have been led by the 

 force of the growing demands and the stationary condition of their 

 revenues to study economy to the utmost. In attempting to hold 

 their own they have already endangered their efficiency, and have 

 suffered serious inroads on a type of personnel which it has taken 

 many years to develop. 



No institution can hope at this time to maintain its position on a 

 prewar revenue. With the increased cost of expert service, mate- 

 rials, labor, and ever^'thing that goes into research, it is manifestly 

 impossible for an experiment station to do so. The price which is 

 being paid for delay in meeting these higher costs is a heavy one, as 

 becomes forcefully apparent when a study is made covering any con-^ 

 siderable range of country-. It is expressed in a slowing up of re-- 



