306 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. [Vol. 41 



In a specific iiibtance, the calling of a head of department at one 

 institution to a new position in another created a vacancy which 

 Avas filled by drawing a worker from still another State, who had 

 hitherto been wholl}^ engaged in the station upon a fundamental in- 

 quiry for which special facilities had been developed. The project 

 was in its eighth season, just beginning to give results, and probably 

 represented an investment to the station in salary and material of 

 approximately twenty-five thousand dollars. Being largely a field 

 enterprise dealing with growing trees, it could not be moved and 

 hence another expert must be looked for to continue it. Even with 

 excellent records left behind, the human factor in such an investiga- 

 tion, the interest attaching to a personal effort, and the interpretation 

 of the results so as to realize their full meaning count for very much. 



There seems no sure remedy for this under present circumstances 

 and no feasible means of avoiding the chain of lost motion which is 

 usually set up. It is a result of the present competition and system 

 of recruiting men. A certain amount of change, especially among 

 the younger men, is to be expected and is desirable. It j^rovides a 

 stimulus and a means of growth. But greater consideration for the 

 work would avoid some of the changes most serious in their effect, 

 even at the expense of a departure from established procedure. A 

 firm determination to withstand the taking away of key men would 

 tend somewhat to discourage it. 



The decreased efliciency through interruption and the doing of a 

 variety of things is another source of economic loss. It is quite as 

 important that the energies of the station workers should be econ- 

 omized and directed to productive channels as it is that the funds be 

 spent in an economical and judicious way. It affords quite as large 

 opportunity, although there may be even more difficulties involved in 

 it. It may be far more fundamental in determining the product of 

 a station. 



Station workers are rarely in complete control of their time. They 

 have other duties than their investigations — regulatory, teaching, 

 correspondence, advisory, etc. These other duties serve as interrup- 

 tions and as such may involve more than the actual time concerned. 

 Many men need to be protected against themselves as well as against 

 demands from without, to be stimulated to concentrate and to per- 

 sist in their efforts, and to put the best that is in them into their work. 

 The personal e(|uation figures largely in this connection and hence 

 requires sympathetic attention on the part of the director. Notable 

 progress has been made in the proper division of time and effort 

 where other duties are involved, and in grouping together the teach- 

 ing periods or restricting this function to a particular season. Where 

 this has not been accomplished it offers considerable opportunity for 

 the economy of time and the proper direction of effort. Larger free- 

 dom for uninterrupted time in the station is still much to be desired. 



