186 
mental research on all problems connected with the experimental 
study of plant growth and crop production. They are free to 
choose problems from the standpoint of their fundamental signifi- 
cance for future agriculture rather than merely their bearing on 
local and sometimes temporary needs. We shall always need to 
supplement the work of the agricultural colleges and experiment 
stations by providing institutions, which from their organization 
and traditions are free to devote their energies to the investiga- 
tion of the more fundamental aspects of our knowledge of plant 
life. It seems to me also that your choice of plant pathology and 
genetics as the lines of research in which you are specializing is 
very well considered. It is generally agreed that the problems of 
food production for the future are to be worked out along the 
lines of improved methods of crop protection based on a better 
understanding of the fundamental nature of plant diseases and the 
improvement of our crop plants by rational methods of breeding 
new types with special adaptations, both for disease resistance and 
productiveness. 
Very truly yours, 
(Signed) R. A. HARPER, 
Professor of Botany, Columbia University, 
Formerly Chairman, Division of Biology and Agriculture 
165 BROADWAY 
NEW YORK 
My dear Dr. Gager: 
It seems to me there is a definite need for research in botanical 
science which shall be in the field of pure science, detached wholly 
from any direct purpose of economic development. The Federal 
research of which you speak all looks more or less definitely to- 
ward rather quick economic results and is necessarily guided by 
this in a very large measure. 
Furthermore, in a field so large it is certain that some of it 
will be left uncovered and the work of the Brooklyn Botanic Gar- 
den can readily be so directed as to supplement rather than dupli- 
cate that which is proceeding elsewhere. I am strongly of the 
opinion that it will never be possible to do too much of this work 
so long as it is under sincere and well-informed scientific guidance, 
