8 



no clear, definite policy has been developed regarding their correlation. 

 This is due in part to the fact that the methods of agricultural research 

 and the relation of agencies are still in the experimental stage. There 

 has not been time to determine fully where the different institutions 

 stand. Each is feeling its way. State institutions are undertaking 

 work of the most varied nature while the United States Department of 

 Agriculture is contributingto state agencies.co-operating with them, and 

 engaging in independent work ranging all the way from undertakings 

 of the broadest national character to almost purely local investiga- 

 • tions. It is fair to say that all disagreements between different 

 agencies of agricultural research have arisen mainly from this lack 

 of a permanent policy in either state or nation. There has been an 

 extensive overlapping of the fields of operation of the two classes of 

 agencies in the study of questions similar in character and regional 

 application. 



The foregoing analysis of past efforts should not be received as 

 attributing blameworthiness to institutions that under new and untried 

 conditions have endeavored loyally and industriously to promote 

 agricultural welfare. It should be remembered that all the agencies 

 relating to agricultural science have been passing through a formative 

 period, a day of experiments in a new field, during which time results 

 of remarkable scope and benefit have been attained. But in justice to 

 the truth, the past forty years must be regarded as having been 

 devoted principally to agricultural education and propaganda rather 

 than the discovery of new truth. While much valuable new knowledge 

 has been secured, research has really occupied a secondary position. 

 Perhaps this was necessarily so. But the years have brought their 

 fruition. Investigation is now attaining a larger relative place and it 

 would seem that the time has come for some readjustment of 

 organization and effort and the establishment of a definite permanent 

 policy. To this end the following suggestions are offered : 



A. The training of investigators is a necessary antecedent to the 

 efficient expenditure of research funds. In developing the work of 

 inquiry this factor should be considered as fundamental and should be 

 definitely provided for. Competent investigators are needed more 

 than money. A large investigator and small means may do much, 

 but a small investigator and large means will accomplish but little. 



No problems demand for their solution methods more searching or 

 profound than do those pertaining to agriculture. For this reason, 

 agricultural investigators should be trained as broadly and severely as 

 any other class of scientific men. In no field is "popular" research effi- 

 cient. The agricultural colleges should recognize more clearly their 



