The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-05-17

pEacGIce or Qot0n01n& themselves
against the ills common to their art.
A more subtle and, as we think, more
pernicious result of this tendency has
been its effect on the Investigations at
tempted by the stations. Many super
fetal experiments have been under,
taken by them in response to the de-
mand by the farmers for results of i'm.
mediate practical application. Tt is
easy thus to give the impression that q
large amount of work is being done at
the station when, really, most of it
may be of comparatively little value.
OfTentimes experiments are tried in
one line for year or two and then
something else is substituted as the
popular demand shifts from time to
time"
After pointing out the danger of
dwelling chiefly on the immediate prac-
tical needs of the farmers and listening
to their cries for help in this or that
direction, the necessity is emphasized
of inquiring diligently every year as to
the proper limitation of station work.
The following forcible sentences are
used:
ut will be strange, indeed, If the
agencies established for the express
purpose of advancing tho boundaries of
knowledge regarding the science Of
agriculture as related to it's practice
can successfully follow any different
path from that pursued by other
similar institutions. How would the
medical professor or even the general
public regard the proposition that the
specialists who, in their laboratories
and hospitals are bearing almost the
entire burden of establishing the prin-
ciples and methods on which the prac
tice of medicine is now making some
real advance, should give up their re-
searches even for half their time and
devote themselves to writing popular
treatises on the causes and remedies
for prevalent diseases9 They might
thus, perhaps, save some valuable lives
which will be lost because OF ignorance
Of the present teachings Of medical
science, but who cannot see that it is
far better to keep these specialists at
their work Of investigation and try in
other weys to widely disseminate the
suits Of their researches"
The entire article, fresh from the pen
of DR.. True, should be carefully read
and re read by every one though the
quotations will present food for
thought. Especially his closing para
graph is earnestly commended:
I'VE believe the time has come for
the friends of the experiment stations
in this country to declare themselves
boldly in regard to the proper limita
tions of their work. The stations have
a great fund intended for original re-
search in behalf of agriculture. There
is more need than ever before of scien-
tific effort for the benefit of our agri.
culture and more promise than ever
before of successful results from scien.
tific Investigations. The popularity of
the stations has led to the practical
diversion of much of their funds in the
direction of pseudo scientific effortand
the dissemination of general informa
tion. It is time to call halt. Make
the stations what they were intended
to be, institutions for original research.
Man them with the best experts and
hold these men to their legitimate work.
Keep the fountains of new truth pure
and bubbling, enlarge their capacity,
guard them against deflement. In
this way alone will the future Of oul
agriculture be made secure"
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