184 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



The general considerations affecting the efficient organization of our experiment 

 stations have thus been dwelt upon because a survey of these institutions during 

 the past year has brought additional evidence that the problems of organization 

 are being more generally considered than ever before. The tide is running 

 strongly toward a more compact organization and a greater unification of the 

 work. On the whole, those stations which have a strong organization and admin- 

 istration are meeting with the largest measure of success. 



Tlie original ivork of the stations.— There is also unusual interest in the discus- 

 sion of problems relating to the functions of the stations and the specific duties of 

 station officers. There is quite general agreement that each station should con- 

 duct a considerable amount of original investigation; but in what way this should 

 be provided for and what should be its character are variously regarded. There 

 is still great variety in the assignments of teaching and investigation to officers in 

 different stations, and the relative amount of work of research which is left to 

 assistants differs very greatly in different places. Considerations relating to the 

 financial conditions of college and station still affect the assignment of work in a 

 number of institutions. Our observation of the situation leads us to the belief 

 that there is actually going on a widespread differentiation of the investigator 

 from the teacher, and that this is not prevented, though it may be hindered, by 

 the varying arrangements made at the colleges and stations. A certain number 

 of men are more and more devoting themselves to the work of investigation and 

 succeeding in it. Others are just as certainly losing their interest and activity in 

 such work. Because a man is required to teach many hours he does not thereby 

 become a successful teacher. The research which he is compelled to carry on 

 during vacations and at night may nevertheless be his real mission, and it will be 

 well if his superiors discover this. The leaving of details of research work to 

 assistants often means that the principal has largely lost his interest in it or con- 

 siders other duties more important. We are getting an increasing body of com- 

 petent investigators by this process, though in too many cases their training is 

 proceeding under untoward conditions. It will be well if boards and presidents 

 will consider more fully the actual state of things and make, as far as possible, 

 such a readjustment that the investigator will be left very largely to investigate 

 and the teacher to teach. It continues to be a weakness of a considerable number 

 of our stations that they are organized on too broad a scale for their resources. 

 Too great a portion of their funds is going into salaries, leaving too little to pay 

 the miscellaneous expenses of important investigations. Here and there only 

 have the authorities had the wisdom and courage to confine the operations of the 

 <•*■ ition within comparatively narrow lines, leaving important departments of work 

 e tireiy without recognition. It is em o iraging, however, to observe that where 

 t tis has been done success has brought additional funds with which the scope of 

 tae station's work could be safely extended. 



On the whole, the amount of what may fairly be called original investigation is, 

 in our opinion, steadily increasing. To determine this it is not sufficient to con- 

 sider simply the bulletins of the stations. These have in various ways been made 

 more popular in form and matter. A large amount of the more original work is 

 being recorded in the annual reports and the records of more investigations are 

 being withheld from publication until results of value are obtained. While there 

 is still need of urging the advancement of the general standard of investigations, 

 there is every reason to believe that our stations are moving onward and upward 

 as agencies for the original investigation of agricultural problems. 



The inspection service of the stations. — The amount and variety of inspection 

 service required of our experiment stations continue to grow from year to year. 

 Beginning with commercial fertilizers, it now includes feeding stuffs, dairy prod- 

 ucts and other foods for man, creamery glassware, insecticides, nursery stock for 

 injurious insects, and plant and animal diseases. For a considerable period this 

 matter affected only the stations in the East, where commercial fertilizers were 

 largely used, but it is now a live question in all sections of the country, sin; e 

 there is no region which does not have some evil against which the agricultural 

 public is demanding protection by inspection under State or National auspices. 

 Questions relating to the attitude of the stations toward this work are therefore 

 engaging the attention of station officers throughout the country. Wherever 

 this work has assumed considerable magnitude it is evident that it requires very 

 careful organization in order that it may be conducted so as not to interfere with 

 the work of investigation. Where the same officers are charged with both kinds of 

 work there is constant danger that the severe routine duties of the inspection 

 service will diminish the ability of these officers to conduct thorough original 

 investigation. It is essential that there should be a distinct differentiation of this 

 service from the other work of the stations as regards both funds and time of 



