606 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOKD, 



largc4y dissipated in ill-considered general studies. The prime neces- 

 sity was to establish agricultural production on a rational and scien- 

 tific basis. This great task was laid upon the stations and the 

 National Department of Agriculture. The concentration of effort in 

 this direction Avas most fortunate and has led to results of permanent 

 and incalculable value. This work is yet far from completion, but 

 the institutions for research relating to agricultural production are 

 now finnW established, have won the confidence and support of the 

 agricultural community, and so demonstrated their usefulness that 

 public funds are liberally bestowed on their maintenance. 



It is highly important that the stations and other agencies for such 

 research should continue to be held strictl}' to this business. Accu- 

 rate knowledge of the natural conditions governing agricultural 

 production is the only sure basis for the permanent prosperit}' of agri- 

 cultural communities. It would be most unfortunate if any move- 

 ment should arise which would divert these research agencies from 

 strict adherence to the program of close and accurate studies relating 

 directly to agricultural j)roduction. 



But it is equally clear that the time has now coiiie for exact and 

 comprehensive studies of the economic and social conditions of agri- 

 cultural communities. The wisdom of agricultural production in 

 any particular line is determined not only by the familiarity which 

 producers may have with the requirements of the product as related 

 to the natural conditions in their region but also by the economic 

 conditions prevailing in or affecting this region. AAliether Xew Eng- 

 land or Oregon farmers would better engage in wheat growing or 

 dairy husbandry will depend not only on their knowledge of soils, 

 methods of culture, and varieties of wheat, but also on the cost and 

 value of the crop, the state of the wheat market in this and other 

 countries, and other economic conditions. This is obvious when we 

 state it, but oftentimes in our zeal to promote agricultural research 

 relating to production we have laid so much stress on the necessity for 

 an accurate knowledge of the factors of production that we have pro- 

 duced the impression among agricultural people that if they only 

 knew enough about the laws governing production they could suc- 

 cessfully engage in any kind of agricultural pursuit despite the most 

 unfavorable economic conditions. Such Avrong conceptions have, for 

 example, led many to imagine and deplore a decadence of agricultui"^ 

 in regions where changes in economic conditions were destroying 

 certain agi'icultural industries and bringing in others which eventu- 

 ally at least will prove more satisfactory and remunerative. It was 

 inevitable that grain growing should cease to be the predominant 

 factor in eastern agriculture, but more j^rosperous agricultural com- 

 munities will result when dairy husbandry and horticulture are more 

 firmly established and wisely conducted. Grazing may be for a time 



