EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XVII. April, L906. No. 8. 



The passage of the "Adams A.et" will be generally recognized as 

 marking a new era in agricultural investigation. It not only opens up 

 new possibilities to the experiment stat ions, bul its passage indicates t h«* 

 widespread interest in scientific agriculture, which will serve to make 

 their efforts more effective. 



The new appropriation is a distinct tribute to the work and influence 

 of the experiment stations, and to the place which they, have won in 

 the appreciation of the people. A few years ago it would have been 

 well-nigh impossible. But the stations have demonstrated their use- 

 fulness to the satisfaction of the most skeptical, and through their pub- 

 lications and their public speaking have waged a great campaign of 

 education whose influence has become very potent. The confidence 

 now felt was reflected in not only a sympathetic but an aggressive 

 attitude for the passage of the increased appropriation. 



From the time Mr. Adams introduced his bill two years ago, it had 

 the cordial support of representative farmers, their organization-, and 

 the agricultural press. Rarely has a measure making a continuous 

 demand upon the Treasury met with less opposition in Congress. 

 Hardly a voice was raised against it on the floor of the House, and in 

 the Senate there was unanimous consent to its consideration and no 

 opposition to its passage on the final vote. As passed the act is prac- 

 tically in the form in which it was submitted at the beginning of this 

 session of Congress. Great credit is d\w its author for the skill and 

 devotion with which he labored for this measure, and prepared the 

 way for its unanimous passage. 



Great changes have come about since the Hatch Act was passed 

 greater and more far-reaching than we realize until we pause to com- 

 pare the condition of knowledge then and now. At that time the prac- 

 tice of agriculture was governed to a very large extent by empirical 

 rules. The subject was not differentiated either in the agricultural 

 college or the experiment station, and apparently the need of such dif- 

 ferentiation was not felt because there was not the necessary basis for it 



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