The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1909-01-23

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misunderstood.
True Scope of Governments AsriclI.
tural Experiment Stations is Not
Thoroughly Realized.
by c. F. Adams. Acting Director, Ar
kansas Experiment Station)
An Agricultural Experiment Station
is primarily a 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-
ton as research institution, is often
misunderstood. This is because the
term research" Is an unknown guam
tfty with great many people. Two
often test is looked upon as being
a 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. It does not tell him that
something is compelled to take place
if natures energies are properly
brought 40 haar IN 90 nh ofhnr Tho
latter is what research does. It gives
to man 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
edge.
The idea of research carries with
it, necessarily, that of unsolyed 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 beautt-
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
take better advantage of her re-
sources. To win success his prepare
ton must be of the best Nature is
just as obstinate in denying man her
secrets as she is untiring in her eff
forts to feed his hungry body.
Demand for investigators is Growing
To answer this fundamental re-
quirement of research the demand for
Investigators 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 if the stations
efforts do not measure up to that
standard the fund reverts TO the Uni
ted States treasury. 1t behooves 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 I quote from a
recent report by the Commission on
Agricultural Research:
The development of research effort
has not been symmetrical and log
cal. Adequately trained men have
lot been provided in sufficient num-
Der to expend in the way of capable
Investigation the entire amounts Of
and state appropriations that
lave been applied to agricultural re
search, This is one of the reasons
Why the more difficult agricultural
problems have so largely remained
AS to this matter, we may quote
rom personal letter of a we'll
,noWn investigator: The demand for
gricultural research has been great
# than the supply of men capable
# carrying on research or education
j work The agricultural colleges
nd the agencies of research have
zen created by law, but the law
annot create men. The agricultural
olleges have developed consider
BILE proportion of undertrained men,
7ithout poise or sustained Judgment,
nd under these conditions the per-
ona1 element enters into the work
f the state and national institutions,
nd in the majority of cases most Of 4
he difficulties arising in the field !
lay be traced to the personal equa- {
on of inadequate men, {
It is here that the standards of
dueation have a direct and imme- {
late relation to the quality of re-
earch effort. In those colleges of ]
grieulture in which high educational S
5andards are maintained. the various e
'rms Of agricultural research are in q
eneral, of high character, CORE I
bonding to the more elevated char t
cter of the academic administra- b
on. 4 debasement of educational b
Leas reacts with certainty upon the a
ork of scientific inquiry. In these b
ALTERS college authorities are some a
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