208 



The Plant World. 



enters into cooperative work. If this could he eliminated, 

 results would follow." "There is too great lack of confidence 

 between workers to encourage cooperation." "General coopera- 

 tion is a misconception. It results in working somebody else. 

 Xo cooperation should be expected other than answers to ques- 

 tions which require no cooperation. Published work which can 

 be understood by all is the sort of cooperation the world wants." 



On the other side there are these opinions: "Honest co- 

 ol oration is the thing." "Everyone engaged in research work 

 should know the problems engaged in by others. If a new idea 

 is discovered it should be given publication before the work is 

 completed so that it may be a benefit to others." "If a plant 

 pathologist is big enough, no personal or institutional competition 

 will be undertaken; organized, cooperative investigation will 

 lie instituted instead." 



Here, I wish to express the idea of cooperation that has long 

 suggested itself to me. The essential thing in cooperation is 

 that a definite interest be shown by the various parties concerned 

 m the specific problem which requires cooperation. If the same 

 problem comes up at two different places, the investigators should 

 each work it in their own way. The results should then be com- 

 pared, ideas exchanged, mistakes discovered. If the imper- 

 fections are not brought to light in this way it leaves the farmer 

 or the student to wonder which apparent facts he had better 

 believe, when a very little honorable cooperation on the part 

 of the technical workers would remove the difficulty. There 

 can be no fixed methods of cooperation, rather our interpreta- 

 tion of the problem which comes up should outline all methods 

 of work. 



The permanency of the work carried on by one person and in 

 one locality is questionable at times, although excellent results 

 have been obtained by persons working alone. "Investigation 

 consists of both breadth and depth. Breadth is secured by inter- 

 change of ideas, visits, etc. Depth by persistent work bv one's 

 self." 



Various opinions exist as to the real motives back of much 

 of our station work. "There is the feeling that personal com- 

 petition takes a more prominent position than scientific inquiry 

 among our investigators along all lines. Most investigators 



