258 STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



which rcckiced th(> number of men available for research and common 

 Jabor, these plans had to be modified and reduced. Mr. H. C. Young was 

 appointed Kesearcli Associate in Plant Physiol()jj;y and f>;iveii the followinji, 

 problem: "The physioloj2;ical effect on life processes of certain j)lants\vheii 

 growing under deficient or improper nutritive conditions." Shortl}^ after 

 his appointment, Mr. Young was called into army service as a Lieutenant 

 in the Sanitary Corps, and the work on the problem was stopped. 



I regret to report that but little experimental work has been done 

 on our cooperative experiment, to-wit, a study of the electrical conductivity 

 of seeds. I have had the matter in mind considerably, planning various 

 waj'-s of attacking the problem. 



COOPERATIVE WORK, 



In addition to the above work, this division is cooperating in two 

 other problems. We are collecting soil temperature data for the Ecological 

 Society of America. Dr. Shreve of Tucson, Arizona, is in charge of the 

 big problem, and we note that many states are cooperating for the pur- 

 pose of carrying out a soil temperature survey throughout the United 

 States. Next month will complete a year's record of soil temperatures 

 at this Station. Our second cooperative problem is with the National 

 Research Council. This problem is one of very great importance and many 

 experiment stations throughout the United States are at work on it. The 

 formal statement of the problem is, "The determination of the salt re- 

 quirements of agricultural plants". All the workers aim to find out what 

 combination of the necessary elements in the soil gives the most satis- 

 factory growth of plants. On account of the lack of help and large amount 

 of time necessary for our own work we have been able only to get a good 

 start in this cooperative problem. 



INSTRUCTIONAL WORK. 



The work in the college included as usual, graduate and undergraduate 

 instruction. With the absence of Mr. Young in the arni}^, all the lectures 

 and laboratory work in plant physiology fell to me. Courses were given 

 in the fall and spring terms. During the time that the S. A. T. C. was 

 stationed here, I was called on to take charge of Bacteriology 3 in the 

 fall term, and found it a pleasure to do the extra work. I also assisted 

 Mr. Seeley with his class in meteorology, putting in seven hours a week. 

 I gave the usual yearly lectures on plant nutrition to the class in agricul- 

 tural chemistry. I also lectured to the senior class in pedagogy, outlining 

 a course of study in plant physiology for high school students. Certain 

 experiments were set up and demonstrated at the time. 



I wish to call attention again to the crowded condition of both laboratory 

 and greenhouse. We appreciate that we have had more greenhouse space 

 than usual due to your willingness to give up your bench, but even so 

 our entire space for housing work in systematic botany, pathology and 

 physiology is far too small for work of such importance. The experiment 

 station laboratory is also crowded, and more space should be had at the 

 earliest possible time. 



For your sympathy, cooperation and willing assistance in all the varied 

 interests of plant pliysiology, I wish to give you my many thanks. 



Respectfully, 

 R. P. HIBBARD, 



East Lansing, June 30, 1919. Research Associate. 



