19191 EDITORIAL. 707 



ments has. In either case the plan and purpose in accordance with 

 which the data are taken, the adequacy of the plan to supply the 

 necessaiy dependable data to carry out the purpose of the inquiry, 

 and the analysis and interpretation of the data in a manner to dis- 

 close true relationships, will determine the grade of a piece of work 

 and the rank it is entitled to. The result may be more exact or 

 final in one case than in another, but the method of science must be 

 evident in all activity classed as research. The difference in grade 

 may be analogous to that between tabulated popular opinion based 

 on experience and the weighed evidence deduced by the scientist. 

 The first may be interesting and helpful, but it needs the skilled 

 interpretation of the investigator to give it the authority of science. 



In any new subject dependent on public support it is necessary to 

 do a certain amount of work vrhich will show the possibilities in that 

 field and tend to arouse popular interest in it. In agriculture the 

 gathering of data on existing conditions and practices is helpfid as 

 a starting point, and gives something of a background of fact. This 

 has been true in economics. Just as in the early days interest and 

 support were aroused for larger things by analysis of commercial 

 fertilizers and the making of local tests, so in this newer line it has 

 been necessary to arouse interest by opening up the field and by 

 doing things which are to some extent in the nature of personal or 

 advisory service. But as the subject has progressed and become 

 more widely accepted in the curriculum and in framing public 

 measures, the necessity has grown for fundamental data which are 

 general instead of local or individual, and express a broad principle. 



The field of investigation in farm economics has been considerably 

 clarified by the recent reorganization and enlargement of the Office 

 and Farm Management. The proposal for extensive cooperation 

 between the Department and the experiment stations in carrjdng 

 on studies in this field, and the discussion which has been going on 

 regarding the character of investigation to be undertaken will un- 

 doubtedly have an important bearing on the development of system- 

 atic inquiry. The more definite setting forth of fundamental prob- 

 lems and the working out of plans for specific inquiries can hardly 

 fail to stimulate and intensify investigation. The formation of the 

 American Farm Economic Association and the character of papers 

 presented at its recent meeting in Chicago are evidence of a redirec- 

 tion which is taking place. 



The inclusion of the human factors in farm economy along with 

 farm economics and farm management has paved the way for en- 

 larged attention to rural sociology and problems of country life. 

 The meeting of the Annual Country Life Conference at Chicago, 

 153351°— 20 2 



