51 
A Laboratory or Institute of Plant Pathology 
In addition to larger research opportunities for our curators 
whose duties are partly administrative and closely associated with 
our scientific collections, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden now faces 
one of the largest opportunities that ever came to a botanical 
institution, namely, the need for fundamental investigations into 
the nature and control or prevention of plant diseases, with special 
reference to those that affect the health, and wealth, and well 
being of the inhabitants of a great metropolis like New York. 
This work is not only of great value from the standpoint of pure 
science, but is also of the highest economic importance. 
The Garden is strategically located for the successful prosecu- 
tion of various plant disease problems. As an initial project 
none is more closely related to the commercal life of the metro- 
polis than a study of the transportation and storage diseases of 
the fruits and vegetables that come into the city markets, not 
only from domestic growers, but also from the tropics and sub- 
tropics. The losses from this cause, in the port of New York 
alone, amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. 
The reduction of these losses depends chiefly upon a better under- 
standing of the nature and control of the plant diseases to which 
they are due. This work, especially certain phases of it, is not 
now adequately provided for by any existing institution or 
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organization. 
An institute or laboratory for the prosecution of such problems 
should be located in a region having as many as possible of the 
following qualifications : 
1. Easily accessible by rail and otherwise. 
2. Having a good soil and an equable climate ; a climate not only 
favorable for crops, but congenial for scientific work 12 months 
in the year. 
3. Near an educational center having large library and herbar- 
ium. facilities. 
4. Having extensive market gardens, commercial greenhouses, 
and markets of foreign and domestic fruits, vegetables, and orna- 
mental plants. 
5. Ample housing accommodations for permanent members of 
