74 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [FEBRUARY 
ity for original research as shown by a thesis approved by the 
faculty. A residence of at least one year, and in some cases 
two years, at the university conferring the degree is required. 
Upon the presentation of a satisfactory thesis the candidate is 
admitted to examination, which must show familiarity with the 
general subject of botany, and in most institutions with one or two 
allied subjects as minors. Usually no precise requirements are 
stated, but the minimum time in most institutions is three years 
of graduate work. 
In order to elicit the information desired the editors of the 
GazeETTE selected seventeen institutions where they personally 
knew of the existence of well equipped laboratories and a 
vigorous head of the botanical department. To the head of the 
department was addressed a letter of inquiry, in which, to guard 
against misunderstanding, the following language was used: 
We wish to know what work in botany a student can obtain in your 
institution this year, who should come with three years of training in general 
botany and ask to enter for the doctor's degree. This information is intended 
not for the glorification of any university, but to give the actual status of the 
facilities for graduate work in American laboratories. It is not intended to 
give what the instructor might do had he more time, a better library, and 
more apparatus, but what he can do actually with his present limitations. 
This is making an unusual demand upon your time, but we are confident that 
you will aid us in making this statement as full and accurate as possible. 
In order that no essential point may be omitted we would suggest that 
not only the kind of work that is possible be described, but definite informa- 
tion given as to strength of library and collections, and also garden and 
greenhouse facilities. We shall take it for granted that the ordinary appli- 
ances are available. 
Replies were received from all those addressed. Two of the 
seventeen replied that the institution did not offer the doctor’s 
degree in botany at present. The reply from another stated no 
subjects in which research might be undertaken, so that it was 
not possible to include it in the summary given below. In_ 
addition to the information conveyed by letter we have used — 
data derived from the handbook for graduate students, Graduate 
Courses, for 1896-7, and from the catalogues of the several 
_institutions. “All the data | scieea sae have been srecen ; anes 
arcing Ree re eS, Bi 
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