Of the Science of Plant Bacteriology 299 



had not been described, nor had it been shown by means of pure 

 cultures and inoculations to what organism this disease of beans 

 was due. 



Smith's research work m botanv and bacteriology was regarded 

 with such high favor by authorities of the New York Agricultural 

 Experiment Station at Geneva that in 1897, recommended by Fair- 

 child to whom the place was first offered, Smith, without receiving 

 a definite otler, was invited to submit credentials. Fairchild refused 

 the position, since, after completing studies in Europe, some plant 

 introduction explorations around the Mediterranean for the De- 

 partment, and his first world tour, he had obligated himself to 

 complete, as a special agent of the Division of Forestry under 

 Bernhard Eduard Fernow, a bulletin on" Systematic Plant Intro- 

 duction." "^^ Fairchild and Swingle, who had also returned from 

 studies in Europe, were envisioning, and had begun to plan with 

 other officials of the United States Department of Agriculture, the 

 program of world exploration and systematic plant introduction 

 which was to form one of the most valuable adjuncts of an 

 expanded Department of Agriculture. During years at the turn 

 of the century, this expansion characterized nearly every principal 

 departmental division connected with the scientific study of plants 

 Advancing the work of plant introduction was to lend impetus 

 to plant breeding for disease resistance, a branch of study for 

 which Smith in 1899 helped to secure special appropriations. 



Smith was strongly urged by Veranus A. Moore of the Depart- 

 ment of Comparative Pathology and Bacteriology of the New 

 York State Veterinary College at Cornell University to accept the 

 position at Geneva. On October 25, 1897, Moore informed that 

 he had written Director Jordan " laying stress," he said, " on your 

 work in bacterial plant diseases. We hope you will get the place." 

 On the same day Bailey also advised Smith: 



I have written to Dr. Jordan and have not been sparing in my encomiums 

 because I have written just what I feel. I sincerely hope that you may find 

 a foothold there. It is very probable that you could not get an outfit to 

 your liking at once, but if you once get established there, you could 

 [develop] a laboratory, which, I think, would be eminently worth your 

 while. 



Other scientists, including Charles Wright Dodge of the Depart- 



'* Bulletin 21, Div. of Forestry, U. S. Dep't of Agric, 24, 1898. 



