EDITORS' NOTE 



For several years there has been a need for an English text- 

 book of plant physiology which presents the fundamentals of the 

 physiology of plants and which gives examples of the phases of 

 this subject as applied to the various branches of agriculture and 

 forestry. Dr. N. A. Maximov's textbook seems to fulfill this need 

 in an excellent manner. It presents thoroughly and clearly all 

 the important features of plant physiology that a beginning 

 student should know. 



The book has certain pedagogical merits. It is arranged into 

 four major parts with conveniently short chapters, thus facilitating 

 its use for class work. The attention of the student is not detracted 

 by too numerous references to literature nor by too profuse explan- 

 atory footnotes, yet sufficient reference is made to names promi- 

 nent in the historical development of each subject. Illustrations 

 and data are often taken from the application of physiology to 

 practical problems. In many cases American literature has been 

 used as the source of illustrative material. The data presented 

 from Russian literature offer an introduction to many valuable 

 plant physiological contributions which formerly have not been 

 available to students on account of the difficulty of reading the 

 Russian language. The text brings up to date the results of 

 physiological research both in Russia and in the United States. 



The personal interest of the author in temperature, light and 

 water relations in plants, and in photosynthesis has been reflected 

 in a most desirable manner in this textbook. The position of Dr. 

 Maximov as director of plant physiological work in the Institute 

 of Applied Botany of the Soviet government has brought him into 

 contact with many practical aspects of plant physiology. Russia 

 is a region which offers an unusual range of ecological conditions. 

 The physiological effects of these extremes of environment have 

 been the field of Maximov's experimentation. His research work 

 on cold and drouth resistance in plants has made him an out- 

 standing scientist. It is especially valuable to have so thorough 

 a discussion on frost injury and drouth effects in plants by one 



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