March 24, 1022] 



SCIENCE 



303 



animal experts are given reasonable support 

 they "vvill find, in good time, new and good 

 foods now unknown, and if our economists and 

 other experts are given reasonable support 

 they will show how our cities may be assured 

 of an abundant supply of farm products at 

 all times and at cost reductions that will ex- 

 ceed previous cost reductions that have been 

 so welcome to both farmer and consumer. 



DEVELOPMENT OF A POLICr 



We should no longer delay the development 

 of a more comprehensive national policy for 

 agricultural research. It should provide for 

 liberal federal and state financial support. The 

 best recent testimony comes from the CongTes- 

 sional Joint Commission of Agricultural In- 

 quiry (Congressional Record, December 14, 

 1921, page 421). Members of this Commission 

 after a long and thorough study report as fol- 

 lows : 



"Agi'icnlture is subject to special hazards 

 resulting from the weather and climatic con- 

 ditions, animal and plant diseases and insect 

 pests. These hazards reduce farming to a 

 gigantic gamble. But methods of production 

 can be adapted to the end of reducing losses 

 from climatic and weather conditions to the 

 minimum. Plant and animal diseases and in- 

 sect pests can, to a certain degree, be con- 

 trolled. But the means and the method of re- 

 ducing or controlling these hazards can not 

 be worked out on the farm by the individual 

 farmer. The investment even of the largest is 

 not sufficient to permit the maintenance of the 

 organization necessary for the study and formu- 

 lation of these means and methods. A program 

 of agricultural development therefore must in- 

 clude provisions for an expanded and coordi- 

 nated program of practical scientific investiga- 

 tion, through State and National departments 

 of agriculture and through agricultural col- 

 leges and universities, directed toward reducing 

 the hazards of climatic and weather conditions 

 and of plant and animal diseases and insect 

 pests." 



One strong reason for using public funds 

 to support agricultural research is that the 

 knowledge to be derived should be made avail- 

 able to every farmer throughout the country 



who wants it. It should never happen in this 

 country that knowledge relating to agricultural 

 production shall be limited in its application 

 to private interests because it was developed 

 at the expense of those interests. It may not 

 be improper in other lines of business for in- 

 dividuals or concerns to have a monopoly on 

 knowledge and thus enable them to develop a 

 business monopoly. But this should never be 

 possible in agriculture. A cornerstone of our 

 national strength is the independent farm 

 families who are able to maintain themselves on 

 an independent basis because every farmer is 

 entitled to know all of the secrets of liis busi- 

 ness that anyone knows. 



APPRECIATION OP AGRICULTURAL EESEAECH 



(1) What should be insured first in a na- 

 tional policy? Agricultural research needs first 

 of all the appreciation and good will of the 

 public. Until this is given the research will be 

 heavily handicapped. 



Secretary of Agriculture Wallace declares 

 that research is the basic work of his depart- 

 ment and it is research, that little by little is 

 crystallized into agricultural progress. The 

 public should get this idea. The Congress and 

 legislatures should have it. An intelligent ap- 

 preciation of agricultural research, especiall;^' 

 among leaders and public men, a genuine re- 

 spect for it, an understanding of its import- 

 ance and its requirements, are the primary es- 

 sentials in developing an effective national 

 policy. Such an appreciation exists today but 

 in a very restricted sense. Belief in the im- 

 portance of research is too much of an abstract 

 character, an acknowledgement that it is use- 

 ful in a general way, an acceptance of the fact 

 that it is desirable, but without real symjDathy 

 for it or understanding of its requirements. 

 Thus the public fails to demand it in order that 

 the nation's interests may benefit. One thought- 

 ful student gives as one of the reasons for ad- 

 vocating national support for agricultural re- 

 seai'ch the fact that national appreciation needs 

 the stimulus of direct interest which comes with 

 the discussion of the subject in the halLs of 

 Congress and the making of an appropriation. 

 There are, however, other and better arguments. 



An intelligent appreciation of agricultural 



