INTRODUCTION 7 



shown that much is added to knowledge in applying findings in the labora- 

 tory to behavior in nature and to practice. 



(2) We had found too many botantists working on problems as individ- 

 uals, hence with inadequate techniques for proper solution of the problems, 

 likewise with inadequate equipment. We decided that we would not organize 

 as departments based on techniques, but would organize to attack projects 

 focusing enough different techniques on the projects to bring evidence on 

 them from many, if not from all, angles. We believe this has minimized 

 department jealousies such as sometimes appear in universities where, be- 

 cause of the necessity of teaching, departments must be organized on the 

 basis of technique. It has also led to excellent cooperation between workers. 

 This, of course, called for a staff with a great range of techniques and 

 knowledge of the subject; not only must we have personnel covering every 

 phase of botany needed for the projects, but we must have several kinds 

 of chemists, physicists, entomologists, et al. 



(3) We decided that botanical laboratories were generally inadequately 

 equipped for effective work and that botanists should be supplied vnth many 

 accurate instruments and controls to make their researches thoroughly 

 reliable. The Institute was, as origmally organized, almost a model of equip- 

 ment for the projects m line for solution, and it has always given great 

 attention to equipment since, so far as finances made this possible. Some- 

 times this ideal has brought embarrassment. One worker on light effects 

 asked for a quartz prism that cost $1800.00 and two quartz lenses costing 

 $300.00 each. He got the three desired gems. 



(4) We found many botanists spending their time in doing work that they 

 were not trained to do and doing it poorly or only moderately well. So we 

 early installed an excellent photographic and illustration division, a H- 

 brary force that furnished citations of all literature bearing on the several 

 projects, an engineering and mechanical division that kept all controls in 

 operation and built any apparatus that was not available on the market, 

 and finally a trained greenhouse and garden force that could carry through 

 many of the larger scale experiments under the guidance of the investiga- 

 tors. The investigators were also provided with all needed laboratory 

 helpers. These were generally high-school graduates who were encouraged 

 to take college work while working for the Institute. A number of the labora- 

 tory helpers have since received college degrees, some Master's degrees, and 

 one a Doctor's degree. 



(5) Prompt publication of the researches was also considered desirable. 

 Consequently at first extra space was purchased in the Botanical Gazette and 

 the American Journal of Botany and finished researches published promptly. 

 It is interesting to note that at least one botanist protested to these journals 

 against this practice as unfair in that it gave the scientists of the Institute 

 an unfair advantage over other scientists, namely, opportunity for prompt 

 publication of their results. The Institute merely held that prompt publica- 

 tion is a desirable part of research and that all research institutions should 



