EDITORIAL. 931 



by the crops themselves, although it benefited them, but the purpose 

 it served was not known, and there was no way of reasoning whether 

 or not in a particular case lime would be helpful or its use advisable. 

 Soil tests were relied upon for this purpose, and while they might be 

 regarded as experiments, in themselves they did not comprise an 

 in\ esl igaf ion. 



There were research problems which experience and these experi- 

 ments bad suggested, and after a while these problems became the >ul>- 

 jeet of investigation. The effect of lime in correcting an acid condition 

 of the soil was observed; the relations of this changed reaction to the 

 biological factors of t he soil were worked out; and gradually from these 

 and other facts a basis was formed for the philosophy of liming. 

 Through research the knowledge of this common practice had been 

 made •• accurate and precise." and this accuracy and precision had been 

 •• t ranslated into action." 



The combating of plant diseases and insects furnishes similar illus- 

 trations. We have come to recognise thai investigation of the nature 

 of tlie disease and the life history and habits of the insect are necessary 

 preliminary steps. The practical problem is the control of the pest; 

 tin 1 scientific study of it- habits as a basis for control is research or 

 investigation, and this will suggest many experiments, all directed 

 toward a definite purpose and a part or extension of the investigation. 

 But the man who starts in spraying with this and that, trying every 

 thine - at hand without any basis for his cut-and-try efforts, i- testing 

 merely, and although he may hit upon a remedy, his work is in no 

 sense investigation. 



In feeding- work the case i- often on much the same plane, for 

 example, we make a comparison of wheat bran and gluten meal for 

 milk production. One of these feeds gives the better result, as meas- 

 ured by the yield and the financial returns, hut often the inquiry stop- 

 there. If the question is merely a commercial one. the answer is suf- 

 ficient, and the farmer can lie advised. But we have added nothing to 

 the sum of human knowledge, and we know no better how to i'vi'il next 

 year if the relative prices have changed. Is a pound of digestible fat 

 or of protein in one feed of the same value for making milk a- that 

 from another source \ ( )r are there sonic particular constituent- whose 

 functions are especially important and give the (wd a special value? 

 The real physiological relation of these feed-, or of their respective 

 constituents, to the elaboration of milk remains untouched by such 

 experiments. 



Suppose, again, we (i'i'd a lot of steers on heavy ration- of corn for 

 fattening. Humanity says shelter them in a warm, comfortable barn. 

 They appeal- after a little to resent this. They are uncomfortable and 

 it is difficult to keep them up to the high ration-. Divide them into 

 two lot-, and turn one out into the cold with only a shed to shelter 



