should form its judgment on the broad basis of results obtained as a 

 whole and over a length of time commensurate with the nature of the 

 undertaking. It cannot wisely pass on details or exercise expert 

 judgment on the value of single scientific results. In brief, the 

 legislative body should determine how much shall be expended 

 and for what general objects, and should make its appropria- 

 tions for these purposes to the largest possible extent in the form of 

 lump-sum appropriations, leaving it to the executive officer in general 

 charge of the work to apportion the appropriation between different 

 lines of investigation according to his expert judgment and holding 

 him responsible, as it can only under those conditions, for results. 



(5) The use of research funds should wait upon opportunity. 

 They should be applied to important problems only when there is a 

 conjunction of a problem and of a man or men fitted to attack it. The 

 promiscuous appropriation of funds without a previous clear under- 

 standing as to how they can be used for the study of specific problems 

 is not to be commended. 



(6) The means available for agricultural research should be con- 

 centrated upon such a number of problems as can be studied com- 

 prehensively and carried to the point of well grounded conclusions. 

 Progress in real aid to agriculture woiild in this way be much greater 

 than is made through a larger number of fragmentary inquiries. 



C. As has been pointed out, there is an extensive overlapping of 

 the fields of effort of the United States Department of Agriculture and 

 of the Agricultural Experiment Stations. It is evident that such a 

 situation cannot wisely be allowed to continue. So far as possible, the 

 functions and fields of operation of these agencies should be clearly 

 outlined. This is essential to definiteness of aim, freedom of oppor- 

 tunity and the encouragement of the investigator. Moreover, when 

 two or more public agencies are working toward the same general end, 

 their efforts should be in well considered adjustment, this being a 

 requisite for economy and efficiency of effort. 



The relation that the national department and an experiment sta- 

 tion as research agencies should sustain to each other and to the agri- 

 culture of the nation and of a given state is one that relates to a wise 

 public policy rather than to scientific prerogatives. The real question 

 is, how can public funds be distributed to render the greatest possible 

 service in the aggregate ; not merely in the promotion of material pros- 

 perity but especially in developing the ability of localities and in- 

 dividuals to deal intelligently with their own problems ? This question 

 touches a principle which underlies our federal system, the observance 

 of which is necessary to preserve the efficiency and method of our demo- 



