27'Ji JOURXAL OF FORESTRY 



in all lines of human endeavor, and that the lesson is being heeded is 

 shown by great national research developments, such as that now under 

 way in England. The successful nations in after-the-war competition 

 are going to be those which take the research lesson into account. In- 

 dustries, certainly for their profits, and possibly in some cases almost 

 for their existence, will likewise be dependent upon the investigative 

 efiforts which they make for themselves or those which are made for 

 them by other agencies and the results of which they apply. Investiga- 

 tions to determine the properties of materials and the best methods for 

 their manufacture and use are going to have a very decided bearing on 

 the extent to which they hold their place. No industry can count on 

 holding for its product any field which it has formerly occupied. This 

 holds true of wood and the forest and wood-using industries as much 

 as any others. Foresters should help them to appreciate the significance 

 of this situation, if it is not appreciated already. 



It is going to be a question of competition all along the line, begin- 

 ning with the use of the land, then between materials and industries in 

 our own country, and finally a part of the struggle, friendly or other- 

 wise, with other nations. The most efifective preparation for peace will 

 go a long way toward the best preparation for war. A very material 

 element in any plan of preparation will be in research, and in this all 

 agencies must have a part. 



If the purpose of research is public service, it cannot be accomplished 

 to a maximum by depending upon Government departments or the in- 

 dustries to accept and apply its results. The war has demonstrated this 

 repeatedly, and in this respect has merely served to emphasize what 

 we already knew. It is a part of the job, therefore, of the investiga- 

 tive organization, if it would render the fullest public service, to make 

 a particular effort to put its findings into application. This requires 

 bringing results in effective ways, such as reports and publications, to 

 the attention of those who should be interested in commercial demon- 

 strations which will adapt small-scale closely controlled laboratory 

 methods to large-scale, more closely controlled commercial conditions. 

 Last of all, however, it is a question of human relations. On the part 

 of the investigator, efforts which are necessary for the wide application 

 of results bring with them a truer prospective and better appreciation 

 of the balance of things and a saner point of view regarding past ac- 

 complishments and for future effort. For industries and the public, it 

 means reasonably prompt application of results which are worth while 

 rather than indefinite delay. 



