418 | ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1946 
Agriculture has always been closely related to human progress 
and still plays a dominant role in man’s health, food, and clothing. 
With industry it will to a great extent determine his standard of liv- 
ing. Though plenty and peace may not be invariable companions, 
when the life of individuals is not a hopeless struggle for existence, 
class strife within a nation and hostilities between nations certainly 
tend to disappear. A greater knowledge of agriculture will bring us 
nearer to this objective. There is still much to be learned about the 
land and its maintenance, about crops and the economics of farming. 
We must learn well and rapidly, for our new lands are shrinking. 
Our last large frontier is in the Arctic, and we are far from a know- 
ledge of how to utilize it. In these basic matters that affect all citi- 
zens the Government should be the leader and coordinator of research, 
with responsibility for its effectiveness and its extent. 
The role of research in solving many of the problems of nations 
seems to be well established, and the welfare of a nation in this in- 
dustrial age depends very largely on the continuing extension of the 
horizons of knowledge and the practical application of that added 
knowledge. The obvious question relates to how this may be brought 
about in this country without incurring excessive expenditures and 
thus jeopardizing the success of the entire program. It seems clear 
that the project is of such scope and size that it must be administered 
and subsidized at the national level. The direction of such a com- 
plex program must be in the hands of experienced men who under- 
stand science and appreciate its social implications. Wide representa- 
tion on such a group is necessary from all the agencies contributing in 
an important measure to the success of the program. This would in- 
clude the Federal service, universities, private nonprofit research 
organizations, and industry. This group provided with advice from 
committees representing the various disciplines and with adminis- 
trators as required would be fully capable of selecting broad fields for 
research, of selecting individuals or agencies to conduct research, and 
of determining the amount and nature of support required. 
The types of national science foundations thus far suggested are 
of less importance than the abilities of the men appointed to the foun- 
dation. If the leaders are chosen for their qualifications, their dis- 
tinction, and their ability and desire to serve, the administration 
is in safe hands. The tendency toward honorary or part-time ap- 
pointment can be overdone. The program is too large, too complex, 
and much too important to be administered as an avocation. 
It is not to be expected that such an organization could operate 
at full speed immediately for it must learn as it proceeds. It could, 
however, undertake several objectives with full knowledge that it is on 
the right track. One of these relates to providing additional research 
