8 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



institutions. They exist not alone for their respective States but in 

 the aggregate for the country as a whole and for the science of 

 agriculture. 



Deliberate planning, with full knowledge of what other workers 

 have done and have under way, is time saved in the end. The 

 analysis of such plans and methods and constructive criticism by 

 competent committees might do much to strengthen the attack and 

 make the work more effective. And the mature suggestions of a 

 committee for working together on common problems, or harmoniz- 

 ing the independent efforts of the stations of a region, can hardly 

 fail to be helpful and to command attention. 



It will be a matter of much interest and gratification to all friends 

 of the agricultural experiment stations to know that the memory of 

 the late William TI. Hatch has been honored by the erection of a 

 stately monument in his home city. Although a testimonial to the 

 affection and appreciation of his townsmen and friends, it has more 

 than a local significance, for it perpetuates the memory of one who 

 was long a national figure, and who occupies a high place in the his- 

 tory of agricultural advancement. 



The monument consi.sts of a stone pedestal surmounted by a large 

 bronze figure of Colonel Hatch. It stands in Central Park at Hanni- 

 bal, Missouri, where he had resided for fifty years. It was erected 

 through the efforts of a memorial association in the fall of r.U4, Init 

 it became necessary to delay its dedication until the past fall. The 

 dedication exercises were held October 20. 1015. with addresses by 

 speakers prominent in local and jjolitical life. 



Colonel Hatch died December 23, 1890. He did not live to see the 

 great work set in motion by the act which bears his name come into 

 full fruition, but he saw something of the realization of its possi- 

 bilities, and he took nuuh pride and satisfaction in the national de- 

 velopment of the exi)erinu>nt station idea. Xo man could wish a more 

 noble or enduring nionuuient than that w hich links his name w ith the 

 establishment of the American system of experiment stations, repre- 

 sented in every State by a permanent institution. There has been no 

 more significant and far-reaching step for the advancement of Ameri- 

 can agriculture in any time. There have been other great mea.sure,'^. 

 before and since the " Hatch .Vet," but because it 1)r(night the ]irevious 

 ones into fulfillment and laid tlie foundation which made succeeding 

 ones a natural sequence, the measure stands out conspicuous as an 

 epoch-making one in American agriculture. 



If Colonel Hatch builded belter than he knew it is because the de 

 velopments with and out of the experiment stations already have .sur 

 passed the vision of the men of his day. His name will V)e reinem 

 bered with great hon(»r as one wjio saw the significance of an experi 

 ment station system niitl made possible its attainment. 



