Maech 2, 1917] 



SCIENCE 



223 



cited, which represents the application of science 

 in determining the fertilizer needs and of educa- 

 tion in their intelligent use. 



Emphasis was laid on the importance of the true 

 interpretation of science in practise, and attention 

 was called to some of the factors which may upset 

 the laboratory results and conclusions when they 

 come to be applied. Hence broad generalizations 

 from laboratory experiments under artificial con- 

 ditions are to be made with great care. It is nec- 

 essary to know not only the exact conditions under 

 which the experiments were made, but the modify- 

 ing character of various factors occurring in na- 

 ture. The present confidence of the farmers in 

 scientific work and their readiness to adopt sug- 

 gestions makes it highly important that the teach- 

 ings be sound from both a scientific and a practical 

 standpoint. 



In regard to ' ' The Limitations of Science to 

 Progress in Agriculture," Dr. Lipmau mentioned 

 first of all those inherent in investigators, which 

 necessarily have the effect of retarding progress in 

 acquiring knowledge and applying it in the field 

 of agriculture. While contending that science 

 itself knows no limitations, he agreed that there 

 are many important phases of agricultural ques- 

 tions which have as yet eluded science because of 

 the limitation to human ingenuity and ability to 

 discover. Lack of vision is a most frequent defi- 

 ciency; the outlook needs to be broadened as the 

 problems become more intricate and technical. 

 There needs also to be a quite thorough understand- 

 ing of farm problems and of conditions surround- 

 ing the industry, so that - the findings of science 

 may be properly related to practise and practise 

 may thereby be made scientific. Dr. Lipman 

 strongly urged the adequate preparation of men 

 for research in this field. 



But apart from this, the greatest limitation of 

 science in agriculture at present is in its applica- 

 tion. This is due quite largely to lack of educa- 

 tion of the average farmer. The man power is the 

 real measure of efdciency of production, rather 

 than the acre, and the increase of this measure 

 means more education. To raise the level of pro- 

 duction there must be a higher level of education 

 among the mass of farmers. Economic conditions 

 constitute another type of limitation in this con- 

 nection. The scientific facts may be known be- 

 yond doubt, but owing to conditions the employ- 

 ment of these may for the time being be imprac- 

 tical and uneconomic. 



Lack of working capital was mentioned as 

 another very serious limitation to the application 

 of science, which often hinders raising the level of 



production ; and the same is true of lack of coopera- 

 tion among producers, because single-handed the 

 American farmer is often not able to fully utilize 

 the findings of science or to take advantage of them 

 as he might if broader areas and larger interests 

 were concerned. 



In considering "Economic Factors affecting the 

 Application of Science to Agriculture," Dr. War- 

 ren maintained that when the attempt is made to 

 apply the principles of natural science to industry 

 no method is scientific that fails to count the cost. 

 Because scientists sometimes fail to take full ac- 

 count of the economic aspects of agricultural 

 problems, farmers criticize them as theorists, and 

 because farmers refuse to follow their teachings 

 scientists often criticize them for being unprogres- 

 sive. It was held that while there is opportunity 

 for improvement in agriculture as in all of the 

 industries, "the erroneous but well-nigh universal 

 idea of the city that science can easily double 

 agricultural production leads to the most unfortu- 

 nate public policies. ' ' 



The effects of transportation, distance from 

 market and special local conditions, were consid- 

 ered. Products which are easily and cheaply 

 shipped may be produced long distances from 

 market, whUe perishable products and those that 

 are bulky are advantageously produced near 

 market. Por this reason the eastern dairyman is 

 warranted in growing his hay and buying most of 

 his grain, shipping his mUk and butter to nearby 

 cities. New York state is suited by climate and 

 soil to the growth of sugar beets and efforts have 

 been made to establish the industry there, but 

 sugar can be shipped long distances, and near 

 market it can not compete with bulky products, 

 such as cabbages, potatoes and hay. Furthermore, 

 it is not enough that a product pay; it must be 

 part of the best paying system. Dr. Warren held 

 that the farm practise of a region is usually found 

 to be quite closely adapted to its economic condi- 

 tions, and that in a long-settled agricultural re- 

 gion any effort to decidedly change the type of 

 farming should be undertaken only after careful 

 study of all the factors involved. 



Some dangers to be avoided in the practical in- 

 terpretation of experiments on fertilizers, feeding 

 stuffs, etc., were illustrated, and some applications 

 of the law of diminishing returns were made to 

 broad generalizations from such experiments. The 

 law of supply and demand also has an important 

 bearing on the intensity of farm practise; and it 

 was explained that the "two-blade of grass 

 theory, ' ' first exploited as a means of doubling 



