8 Experiment Station Bulletin 345 



multiplied and complicated with the passing months. Our first objective 

 was to revise and evaluate all research work under way in the light of the 

 new goals necessitated by lend-lease and war activities. Toward this end, 

 each person in charge of any research work was asked to review all acti- 

 vities financed under his direction and, seeking the advice and judgment 

 of all his colleagues, to attempt to determine the fitness and timeliness of 

 each and every activity. Influenced somewhat by the Director's parti- 

 cipation in a committee of the Northeastern Station representatives 

 charged with this problem, the thinking of our personnel was directed along 

 these lines: 



1. Does the project have a definite war value? 



2. Does it have a definite value in the aftermath of the war? 



3. Regardless of its scientific value, can it be held in abeyance for 

 the duration? 



4. Can it be discontinued indefinitely to release funds for new war 

 projects? 



5. Are there new projects that should be inaugurated? 



Various problems were discussed with individuals and groups, and 

 written reports were required to be filed in the Director's office. As a 

 result, several projects have been suspended or closed out. Nearly all 

 others have been revised to conform to the war needs as well as such 

 needs can be interpreted at the moment. For the duration, all projects 

 tend to be written on a temporary basis to be reappraised periodicallv. 

 New projects have been undertaken where the need has been cleai. In 

 this category might be mentioned the new project in human nutrition 

 which was initiated in response to an appeal for nationwide investigation 

 of foods and their effects on health and energy, particularly in regard to 

 preservation and processing as related to the conservation of vitamins. 



MAINTENANCE OF EFFICIENCY 



To this work, which might be called constructive in the sense of 

 initiating, revising, and intensifying our research as a contribution to the 

 war effort, must be added the difficulties encountered in buying equip- 

 ment and in maintaining our personnel organization. For example, pre- 

 cision instruments needed for our nutrition project valued at $1,200 were 

 ordered in January and, in spite of all our preferential priorities, have not 

 yet been delivered. Fortunately, however, we are assured of getting 

 these particular items soon. The delay has occasioned some inconven- 

 ience. The prospects for additional equipment to be purchased in the 

 near future are increasingly poor. Every effort will be made to exercise 

 caution and care in the use and preservation of facilities at hand. Co- 

 operation, planning, and interdepartmental consideration will be necessary 

 to get the best general use from certain machines which cannot likely be 

 duplicated or replaced for the duration. 



Our personnel is being depleted both by the draft and by demands 

 for other war work as well as for commercial enterprises requiring train- 

 ed people to meet the needs of increased war efforts. Some of our most 



