SOME FACTORS IN RESEARCH 289 



respect to their progress would seem to be a most feasible and 

 laudable association of interests. 



Lastly, in reference to particular problems, I may refer to the 

 water relations of cell or tissue as governed by diffusion and col- 

 loidal hydration. On present information the plant physiologist 

 may have no idea of discarding the role of osmotic pressure in 

 the cell, but it is to be inferred that he is in full sympathy with . 

 the proper evaluation of this factor, and he could well join forces 

 with the physical chemist to examine critically and in a new 

 light all factors involved. 



In conclusion let me say that the time has long passed when 

 adequate training for physiological and pathological investiga- 

 tion is obtainable through a botanical or a general biological 

 groundwork, since broad fundamental chemical preparation is 

 particularly essential. This is true whether the ultimate direc- 

 tion of the physiological research pursued is toward the ecological 

 side or the chemical side. No less consideration should be ginen 

 to chemical preparation than to botanical preparation and it 

 would be a great step forward if departments of botany as a 

 whole acceded to this. If it is not recognized the task of the 

 teacher in training investigators in physiology is too great. 



