210 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



results which will have a direct application to one of our fundamental 

 industries — direct in the sense that the gulf which often intervenes 

 between abstract research and its application will be bridged over. 



Definite practical knowledge is at a higher premium than ever 

 before. The scientist who is carrying out investigations is more and 

 more expected to develop the economic relations of his work. While 

 we are more and more patient in awaiting conclusions, we expect that 

 a definite ultimate aim will be kept constantly in view, which centers 

 about some phase of agricultural production. This will constitute 

 the real purpose of the undertaking, and will distinguish it in general 

 character from research in pure science. 



Furthermore, the final results and suggestions must not only be 

 practical in their relations, but they must be practicable as well. 

 Certain practices which might be suggested are not practicable 

 because they can not be fitted into farm operations, which have to be 

 governed b} T certain conditions of first importance. 



The ability to see clearly the practical bearings of his work and to 

 make its application is not given to every investigator. There are 

 still some evidences of this in our experiment stations, although as a 

 class our station workers possess this ability in probably a greater 

 degree, and are closer in their contact and relations with agricultural 

 practice, than any similar class of workers in the world. The most 

 successful of them have made a study of the farmer's methods and 

 shown a close sympathy with his needs. 



We still need in some directions more of intelligent, well -aimed 

 investigation, which will be started right and pursued with a clear 

 purpose to the very end. Our work in some lines is not carefully 

 enough planned. It is fragmentary and not thorough. It needs sys- 

 tematizing, and to have supervision which will stimulate it while giv- 

 ing general direction. This need is enhanced by the division of the 

 men's time between college and station duties, and the interruptions 

 which come from other causes. It is one of the arguments for a 

 director and for a closer organization. 



One of the chief criticisms made upon our experiment station work 

 has been the striving to secure practical applications too rapidly, and 

 not giving time enough for the fundamental research on which these 

 applications must rest. It has been asserted that "the proportion of 

 applied science in agriculture is too great in this country," and that 

 " while we do not need fewer workers in applied agricultural science, 

 we do need more workers who would devote themselves to fundamental 

 research" — with an outlook to practical agriculture, doubtless. 



No one will dispute the need of more investigation of a fundamental 

 character. The experiment stations themselves have demonstrated 

 this, and their work has led up to it, Before their advent the limita- 



