508 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The term " pure science " has been a bugbear to many investigators 

 in agriculture. Their fear of being accused of straying into that field 

 has been due to the surveillance they were under. It has restricted 

 their studies and their range of vision in a manner which has often 

 been reflected in a lack of finality of their conclusions. 



The fact that agricultural investigation is so young and has bor- 

 rowed so largely from other sciences, and that the public demands 

 and expectations are so insistent and often unreasonable, makes an 

 unusual need of clearness and conviction on the part of its scientific 

 workers and a moral support and defense of them in their effort. 

 This sustaining power and protection must come first from the offi- 

 cials of the stations, those who are responsible for its policy and man- 

 agement and are from their position expected to exercise foresight 

 and forebearance, based on an appreciation of the method and spirit 

 of science; and through them it must reach out to a considerable 

 body of the j^eople through the agricultural press, associations, and 

 various other agencies. Progress in this direction is happily one of 

 the most encouraging signs of the day. The encouragement of thor- 

 oughgoing study finds at present increasing support and provision 

 against interruption. 



The public now realizes what science may do for the industry of 

 agriculture; it must be taught to realize the limitations of a small 

 group of men serving the people of a vast State, and the need of 

 opportunity for them to work out this science step by step in their 

 own way, without being pressed to make short cuts and reach imma- 

 ture conclusions. 



