EDITORIAL. 7 



"The philosopher experiments with an object in view, and dis- 

 tinctly in view. ... He first collects and collates all the facts known 

 with regard to it. He then seeks to construct a consistent explana- 

 tion of these various facts. It may be that he finds it impossible to 

 do this. Then he must verify the facts ; perhaps some are false or he 

 sees them from an insufficient point of view, or he must collect more 

 of them by extending his observations, it may be by experiment. He 

 shortly is enabled to form a hypothesis, to frame a theory which 

 promises to account for the facts. Yet it is not a hypothesis but 

 truth he seeks, and now he begins to test his theory. Every deduc- 

 tion which he can draw from it must prove true, else the theory is 

 false. He therefore unites the conditions which his theory indicates 

 will produce a given prevised result. If the result follow, his theory 

 is confirmed, otherwise it must be rejected and a new one formed and 

 similarly proved. Here is where experiment assumes its chief dig- 

 nity and value. Here it must be suggested by reason or it can not be 

 expected to answer any good purpose. Here if rationally devised 

 and skillfully executed it must reveal a truth, and though the truth 

 be negative it is not the less valuable, for every new negative result 

 limits witliin narrower bounds the space wherein positive truth is to 

 be sought." 



This description leaves little to be added. It shows how deep was 

 his insight into the method of science and how thorough his prepa- 

 ration for investigation in it some twenty years before the first station 

 was achieved. 



As to the requirements of experimental work in order to make it 

 of value, Dr. Johnson mentions that at that time (1856) several ex- 

 perimental farms had been established in the country, but states the 

 results of their experiments had no general or permanent worth, for 

 " they have not been made with more insight, nor have they been cal- 

 culated to clear up more doubts, than the single experiments carried 

 out here and there by private individuals." Although executed with 

 more care, " this has been so much more labor lost," for '" the large 

 share of the problems that are now needing solution require the lab- 

 oratory and farm to unite their resources. ... As mere practice is 

 deficient in all that belongs to the province of science to suggest, so 

 science alone lacks that which practice is naturally fitted to supply ; 

 each is the complement of the other; rational agriculture is the result 

 of their union." He described the European experiment stations as 

 ^' intended to make science practical and practice scientific." 



The essentials and distinctions here outlined so clearly had to be 

 learned by the American stations at heavy cost after the system was 

 established more than thirty years later. 



In a later article Dr. Johnson gave this rule for testing theories: 

 •*' The best method of attaining truth is to endeavor earnestly but hon- 



25842°— No. 1—14 2 



