DEPARTMENT OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY. 



The Department of Plant Physiology was established in 1908. The 

 problems of first importance in its organization have been two, namely : 



1. To develop the instructional work and to relate this to the specmc 

 needs in the College of Agriculture, whether as ground-work for students 

 interested in some phases of plant production, or for those preparing 

 themselves for investigation and research in plant physiology and related 

 lines fundamental to production. 



2. To undertake investigations along those lines which may seem of 

 sufficient scientific or practical value in the general field of nutrition, 

 environmental relations, reproduction, and inheritance. In dealing with 

 these fundamental problems in their particular relations to crops, no 

 distinction is made as to the general field of agriculture in which the 

 crop may be placed. Precedent has established such distinctions as field, 

 orchard, garden, and greenhouse plants, and in one sense every product 

 is considered to be either agronomic or horticultural. Nevertheless, from 

 the standpoint of work in this department investigations are undertaken 

 on the principles of growth and production, and the nature of the plant 

 utilized in such work is determined wholly by circumstances. 



As indicated in the previous report it has been impossible, up to the 

 present time, to develop equally all phases of the subject, owing to the 

 fact that the maintenance funds have been required by the unusual de- 

 mands for equipment necessitated through the rapid development of the 

 graduate and advanced work. This demand for apparatus and equipment 

 has been so great that relatively no provision could be made for the field 

 experimental lines which had been anticipated, or for work in the State 

 that involved expense. It is a satisfaction to acknowledge an increase in 

 the maintenance appropriation for 1910-11. 



During the time covered by this report the departmental staff has 

 consisted of one professor, one instructor, and one assistant. 



TEACHING. 



The demand for teaching work has far outgrown the possibilities of 

 space available to this department. There were in progress during the 

 first semester the following courses with registrations as indicated: 



Physiology 7a — 4 hours — 22 

 Physiology 8a — 4 hours — 22 

 Cell Physiology 12a — 3 hours — 7 

 Seminar i6a — i hour — 22 

 Research (or Majors and Minors) — 27 



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