306 Recognition in America 



Not until the first years of the next century, however, was his 

 study effective. Further on, therefore, will appear more on his 

 study of cotton diseases. 



Smith's departmental work for the American Naturalist had 

 met with high favor, especially his writings on bacterial plant 

 diseases. On January 31, 1896, E. D. Cope had written that his 

 department was a " great success, and botanists [were] finding 

 that they must have it." He was advised that more lengthy 

 technical articles were not to be included, but rather, general 

 reviews, synopses, and important results of scientific work. In 

 June Cope accepted the first of his critical reviews of knowledge 

 concerning bacterial diseases of plants. It was " such as the 

 Naturalist desires for a leading article . . . eminently readable." 

 In July he wrote again: " The series you propose will make 

 leading articles, but will not replace the department of Vegetable 

 Physiology, as you have hitherto conducted it." He hoped to 

 " get another of your excellent contributions." Smith for the 

 most part adhered to " summaries of news and discovery." But 

 by August 1897 he thought of his department as in plant physi- 

 ology and morphology, or plant pathology. He told this to Farlow 

 when he also said that he was " especially anxious to complete 

 [his} series of critical papers on Bacterial Diseases of Plants." 



Scientific journals in America thus far had fought bravely to 

 maintain standards of excellence. Experience had demonstrated, 

 however, that to publish articles of real value to science, yet to 

 attract a sufficiently wide reading public to obviate special outside 

 financing, required resourcefulness. In 1894 N. D. C. Hodges, 

 editor of Science, had told Smith that his journal, he believed, 

 had attained its maximum circulation, yet still was functioning 

 at a loss financially. He had found that as much or more attention 

 had to be given to financing, than editing, the publication. With 

 increased costs indicated, some gift solicitations had been found 

 necessary. In August 1897 Smith heard of " new plans " for the 

 American Naturalist. He wrote Farlow who replied that several 

 contributors, among them himself. Dr. C. S. Minot, and others, 

 had purchased the publication. R. P. Bigelow was to act as general 

 editor, and Farlow understood that Smith was "to be asked to 

 continue to take charge of the same subjects as previously." 



Farlow had just learned that he had been chosen to preside 



