EDITORIAL. 705 



five per cent on an endowment of $2,000,000 each. Some of this, 

 to be sure, is appropriated for regulatory service and other non- 

 research -work, yet the showing is still impressive as an indication of 

 their resources and permanent footing. 



Data are not at hand as to the funds available for research in 

 privately supported educational institutions, but it is a reasonable 

 assumption that in few instances would those of the stations suffer 

 by comparison as to either adequacy or stability. In addition it 

 may be pointed out that projects financed by the Federal funds are 

 undertaken under definite plans, many of which, especially in the 

 case of the Adams projects, contemplate their continuation for five 

 to ten years or more, under allotments sufficient to guarantee their 

 efficiency and uninterrupted prosecution. 



Additions to the equipment of the stations during the year aggre- 

 gated $1,135,980.04. Of this amount $537,665.45 was for buikfings, 

 $40,54:4.05 for the libraries, and $130,754.74 for apparatus, as well 

 as $85,768.13 for farm implements, $196,784.02 for live stock, and 

 $144,463.65 for miscellaneous purposes. Most of these figures are 

 larger than in previous years, but they are not deemed abnormal, 

 and may fairly be cited as evidence that the stations as a class are 

 providing their staffs v;ith facilities far more adequate than is com- 

 mon, except at a very few special institutions. 



The more adequate support of the agTicultural colleges, coupled 

 Avith the passage of the Smith-Lever Act and other provisions for 

 extension work, are largely relieving the station worker of other 

 duties. Of the 1,857 members of the station staffs last year, but 

 892 were also engaged in instruction and but 466 were assisting in 

 extension work. That as favorable conditions do not always exist 

 elsewhere may be inferred from a recent address of Dr. Jackson, of 

 the University of Minnesota, entitled Obstacles to Research, in which 

 he says that " even more than lack of facilities, lack of time is an 

 obstacle very frequently encountered by university research work- 

 ers. Many university men are carrying the burden of research and 

 teaching, which, if well done, must encroach upon time absolutely 

 essential for serious research work. In many cases a considerable 

 amount of routine administrative duties, committee work, etc., is 

 added." 



Station work has been organized on a more logical basis than 

 formerly, the subject matter has been subdivided, and the services 

 of specialists extensively employed. Instead of an undifferentiated 

 department of horticulture we may now find plant breeders, physio- 

 logical botanists, pomologists, and the like. Agronomy has resolved 

 itself into soil physics, chemistry, bacteriology, farm crops, etc. 

 At the same time the boundaries between the general sciences have 



