710 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vof. 43 



Another important paper dealing with research was presented 

 before the combined section of agriculture. This avus prepared by 

 Dr. H, J. Webber, formerly director of the California Station, and 

 was entitled The Methods and Problems of Agricultural Investiga- 

 tion. This paper set forth with characteristic frankness and clarity 

 the author's views of how agricultural research may best be strength- 

 ened. Among the needs, he cited that of a more discriminating 

 selection of problems by investigators with greater pains to make 

 sure of their ultimate practical utility. He also urged a careful 

 review of the work by the director and more constructive leadership, 

 pointing out that an essential qualihcation for this is permanency of 

 tenure. At the same time he decried autocracy in administration 

 and opposed a tendency to build up large departments, insisting that 

 men should be selected for specific projects and that the true in- 

 vestigator needed little but " a problem, a Man Friday, and free- 

 dom." Better training of investigators, greater use of graduate stu- 

 dents, continuity of policy, and more team work and cooperation, but 

 with scruj)ulous guarding of the rights of the individual worker, were 

 also thought to be desirable. 



Closer relations between stations and with the Federal Depart- 

 ment were favored by Doctor Webber, and as a means to this end 

 he proposed the organization of the stations as State bureaus of the 

 Department, with joint maintenance and with the station director 

 responsible to both the Department and the institution, and in local 

 charge of all their experimental Avork within the State. Great inter- 

 est was manifested in the paper, and although there was by no means 

 complete agreement with Doctor Webber's suggestions, its construc- 

 tive spirit and breadth of view were generally recognized. After 

 some discussion, in order to give opportunity for its further con- 

 sideration, the committee on experiment station organization and 

 policy was directed to make the matters presented its topic for study 

 during the ensuing year. 



Summarizing the proceedings as a whole the 1920 convention 

 afforded, first of all, a practical opportunity to try out the new plan 

 of organization, revealing both advantages and disadvantages likely 

 to arise under its operation. Despite some congestion and curtail- 

 ments a well-balanced and enlightening program was presented, and 

 it received the close attention of the large attendance of delegates 

 and visitors. Many important matters received consideration, and 

 the association once more showed itself progressive in its sympathies 

 and outlook. From the point of view of the readers of the Record^ 

 the large attention given to research and the unqualified indorsement 

 at the public sessions of an enlarged program for its development 

 was one of the outstanding features of the meeting. . 



