116 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



M. A. Scovell suggested that the kind of man selected would de- 

 pend upon the problem. A graduate of an agricultural college would" 

 be best for certain lines of work, a university graduate for others. 



The discussion of the second phase of the subject, viz, plan, pur- 

 pose, and scope of Adams fund investigations, was led by E. W. 

 Allen of this Office, who emphasized the importance of a definite 

 aim or purpose and a well tliought out plan of procedure. Mere 

 accumulation of data, however valuable in itself, is not research but 

 merely a means to that end. A carefully prepared plan is important 

 from the standpoint of the administrative officer as well as that of 

 the investigator. All projects should be so drawn up that the director 

 can pass upon them intelligently and should be a matter of record in 

 the director's office. The danger of undertaking projects too com- 

 prehensive in scope was pointed out, and typical examples of such 

 projects were given. The projects should be carefully selected and 

 closely supervised, especially at the outset. 



J. G. Lipman urged that directors take a less local view of investi- 

 gation and see that their men inform themselves as to the work of 

 others along similar lines, and that when one station takes a man 

 from another due notice be given so that the interests of the work 

 may be safeguarded. 



H. L. Bolley thought that administrative control might be too 

 rigid and the lines of work too narrow for greatest efficiency. It is 

 impossible, he maintained, to determine with positiveness in advance 

 the course that investigation will take. Whether the plan will be 

 broad or narrow depends upon the man. 



H. J. ^Mieeler suggested that the men at the top are not paid 

 enough to make research attractive as a career to young men. He 

 would confine the work to a few projects. He thought the director 

 should be in touch with all the work of all the departments of the 

 station, but that the men should have full credit for their work. 



Discussing the third phase of the subject, viz, records and reports, 

 including publications. H. J. "Wheeler urged the importance of com- 

 prehensive, complete, and permanent records of the experimental 

 work. The original plan of investigations should be fully recorded. 

 It should be insisted upon that all records are the property of the 

 station and not of the individual, and notebooks and record books 

 should be furnished by the station. The system of note taking and 

 record keeping will vary widely with the man, and large individual 

 freedom should be allowed in this matter; but he did not believe 

 " that any man is fit to be director of an experiment station unless 

 he knows beyond a question that the head of every department is 

 keeping comprehensive, adequate notes that are permanent in char- 

 acter.'' The records should be preserved in fireproof safes or vaults. 



