Times-promoter., 1909-01-22
SOUTHERN
AGRICULTURE
RESEARCH WORK
Misunderstood.
True Scope of Governments Asrlcul.
tural Experiment Stations is Not
Thoroughly Realized.

Il
Thoroughly Realized.
(By C. F. Adams, Acting Director, Ar
kansas Experiment Station)
An Agricultural Experiment Station
IL primarily research institution;
secondarily, one for the dissemination
of knowledge relative thereto. It's
object is to study the underlying prin-
ciples involved in the science of ag-
riculture and then to place the results
of such study at the disposal of the
agricultural profession.
The experiment station in its func-
tion as research institution, is often
misunderstood. This is because the
term research" is an unknown guam
tity with great many people. Two
often test is looked upon as being
piece Of research, while in reality
it is something far different. A test
does not yield absolute knowledge,
but places the tester in frame of
mind to believe that something is
going to happen just because it did
once before. 1t does not tell him that
something is compelled to take place
il natures energies are properly
brought to bear on each other. The
latter is what research does. 1t gives
to man a law and dispenses with the
services of tests, trials, ETC., which
occupy time. Tests, however, have
. their part to play and will be consid-
cred in connection with my treatment
of the dissemination of useful knowl-
edge.
The idea of research carries with
it, necessarily, that Of unsolved prob
lens, and as the primary function OF
a station is one OF research, it should
be organized and sustained accord
ingly. Investigators of the highest
type are absolute essentials, as they
are really the foundation upon which
an experiment station rests. Fine
buildings and structures are beauti-
full to behold, but they give up no Sc
crets Good farms will always yield
crops, even under untoutored tillage,
as nature is unrelenting with her en-
ergies, but just how and why they do.
she remains silent How nature util-
ICES her energies is the problem for
the investigator so that man can
take better advantage of her re- !
sources. To win success his prep9ra-
tion must be of the best Nature is
just as obstinate in denying man her
secrets as she is untiring in her ef-
forts to feed his hungry body.
Demand for Investigators is Growing.
To answer this fundamental re-
quirement of research the demand for
is becoming greater
every year. Part of the federal ap-
the Adams fund, can be
used only, for the highest grade of
research work, and il the stations
efforts do not measure up to that
standard the fund reverts to the Uni
ted States treasury. 1t behooYes col
leges to lay special stress on the
training of investigators, otherwise
the fundamental requirement of the
experiment stations will not be an
swered To this end quote from
recent report by the Commission on
Research:
"The development Of research effort
has not been symmetrical and log
ical Adequately trained men have n
not been provided in sufficient num-
Der to expend in the way of capable
the entire amounts of
national and state appropriations that i
have been applied to agricultural re-
search. This is one of the reasons
Why the more difficult agricultural Ii
problems have SO largely remained {
Untouched.
"As to this matter, we may quote !
rom a personal letter of we'll q
Known investigator: The demand for I
agricultural research has been great !
,r than the supply of men capable !
II carrying on research or education- !,
il work. The agricultural colleges J
md the agencies Of research have
,een created by law, but the law :
annot create men. The agricultural
olleges have developed consider 7
BILE proportion of undertrained men,
without poise or sustained judgment.
nd under these conditions the perl \
onal element enters into the work p
( the state and national institutions, I
nd in the majority OF cases most OF 4
be difficulties arising in the field ]
nay be traced to the personal equa- a
ion of inadequate men" q
1T is here that the standards OF K
ducation have a direct and imme- 9
late relation to the quality Of re- b
earch effort. In those colleges OF I