Preface 



f V Iineral nutrition of plants is a subject of tremendous 

 interest and importance to many people. The plant physiologist must, 

 of course, devote much of his attention to this field; the agronomist, 

 horticulturist, and forester meet problems almost daily which require 

 for their solution specific knowledge dealing with the mineral nutri- 

 tion of many kinds of plants; and lastly, the fertilizer manufacturer, who 

 is called upon to supply the needed mineral nutrients when they are 

 lacking in soils, must, through his technical expert, keep informed of 

 the latest findings in this field if his enterprise is to attain and maintain 

 a forefront position. 



Because these people representing several different but related lines 

 of activity seldom have a suitable opportunity as a group to discuss those 

 phases of the mineral nutrition of plants which are of common interest 

 and concern, Mr. D. D. Long, technical adviser in the fertilizer industry, 

 suggested that a symposium be held so that the latest information, both 

 theoretical and practical, associated with the mineral nutrition of 

 plants might be presented by leaders in the different but allied fields 

 concerned. Accordingly, a committee of eleven people representing six 

 national scientific societies and three other agencies dealing with tech- 

 nical matters in this field was organized to plan and arrange such a 

 symposium. Broad representation on the committee gave assurance 

 that the symposium would be national in scope. Sixteen institutions 

 and agencies located in areas from coast to coast, and one each from 

 Hawaii and Sweden, were represented by speakers on the program. 

 More than five hundred persons attended the meetings; ten foreign 

 countries were represented. 



The Committee expressed a desire to hold the symposium at the 

 University of Wisconsin, because of its central location. This University 

 was particularly happy to accept this proposal; the suggestion came 



