Report of the Presidi-.ni'. 17 



results may come only after years of laborious, patient toil, involving 

 perhaps thousands of tests in the working out of one idea : yet in that 

 way progress lies. 



(c) Correspondence, lectures before farmers, and exhibits at fairs 

 are among the forms of extension work carried on by this department, 

 as by others. The department was instrumental, also, in the organiza- 

 tion of the New York Plant Breeders' Association, the object of which 

 is to bring together seedsmen, farmers, and horticulturists of the State 

 who are interested in originating, improving, and disseminating varieties 

 of farm and horticultural crops. 



IV. Department of Plant Physiology. 



(a) Lack of room has compelled this department to limit registration 

 in some of its courses and to turn many applicants away. In the first 

 term there were registered in the department 100 students, of whom 2y 

 were engaged in research; in the second term there were registered 91 

 students, of whom 26 were engaged in research. 



(b) Gratifying progress has been made during the year in the research 

 studies of the department concerned with plant nutrition, the fixation of 

 nitrogen by fungi, the gum diseases of drupaceous and citrus fruits, the 

 relation of plants to toxic agents, tannin fermentation, the physiological 

 characters of bacteria, etc. ; and results of several of these studies are 

 now ready for publication. It is not so gratifying to note that because 

 of lack of funds, as well as of greenhouse space, it has been found neces- 

 sary to discontinue for a time the observations begun last year on the 

 influence of environment upon plant growth. Some of the needs of this 

 department will doubtless be relieved by the increase of the maintenance 

 appropriation for the year 1910^11 and the completion of the new green- 

 houses, but it is to be hoped that the near future will bring even further 

 provision for the work contemplated. 



(c) There have been no funds available for extension work outside of 

 the considerable amount of correspondence required in answering inquiries 

 from the farmers of the State. 



V. Department of Plant Pathology. 



(a) In this department also it has been necessary because of lack of 

 room and equipment to turn away a number of students who applied 

 for instruction. The department no longer has facilities to provide for 

 training all the students who desire to specialize in its work, aside from 

 the greater number who desire general and elementary instruction in 

 this important subject of plant diseases. The number of students reg- 

 istered was over 200, of whom about 50 were in the Winter Course. 



