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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. SLVII. No. 1212 



The success of this movement will depend 

 on the extent to which pathologists coope- 

 rate in contributing to the common store of 

 information. No matter how absorbing 

 your present work may be each one of you 

 as a botanist can aid us by reporting on the 

 disease situation in your immediate neigh- 

 borhood. This report may be made to our 

 collaborator, the pathologist at your state 

 experiment station or if preferred it may 

 be sent direct to the central office of the 

 survey at Washington. We shall be glad to 

 discuss with you individually the best 

 means of making your cooperation effec- 

 tive. Not only will the information you 

 send us be of value, but your active sup- 

 port will assist us in our efforts to unite all 

 pathological workers in one great coopera- 

 tive service which will strive to do for our 

 food crops some of the things which the 

 public-health service does for us as human 

 beings. 



In this paper I have endeavored to point 

 out the grave responsibility which rests on 

 us as botanists during this world war. 

 This responsibility is a challenge to us as 

 patriotic Americans because we possess spe- 

 cial knowledge and training which the na- 

 tion needs, and to which she has a right 

 during her hour of peril. I have empha- 

 sized the growing need for cooperation as 

 with added responsibilities and reduced 

 numbers we strive to meet the increasing 

 demands of the immediate future. I have 

 presented to you as an example of such co- 

 operative effort the work of the Plaint Dis- 

 ease Survey and have urged you to join us 

 in our plans for strengthening phytopatho- 

 logical work. In closing let me outline two 

 movements of fundamental importance 

 which I believe botanists should immedi- 

 ately undertake. 



First, let us arouse the public to an ap- 

 preciation of the important part which bot- 

 any must play in the agriculture of the fu- 



ture. Increased acreage and improved fa- 

 cilities for distribution of farm products 

 are not sufficient to ensure the world an 

 adequate food supply. Increased produc- 

 tion must be the result of scientific re- 

 search, and the average farmer must be 

 taught the value of the prompt application 

 of the results of research to the improve- 

 ment of agricultural methods. And not 

 only must the farmer be educated but 

 propaganda must be carried on with the 

 business man and the legislator that the 

 botanist may be properly appreciated and 

 his work supported. Botanical work, even 

 of the most fundamental importance, is apt 

 to lack those striking or sensational quali- 

 ties which chain public attention, and un- 

 aided draw large appropriations from our 

 lawmakers. Let us then teach our students 

 the human significance of the study of 

 plants, and send them forth as missionaries. 

 Let us by spoken and printed word and by 

 demonstration strive to instill into the pub- 

 lic mind a greater respect for botanical re- 

 search and a more ready acceptance of its 

 results, thus doing our bit toward ensuring 

 both scientific and material prosperity in 

 the future. 



And second, let us immediately organize 

 to increase our efficiency. A serious crisis 

 requires that maximum power be exerted 

 to avoid catastrophe. Hence discipline and 

 organization under aggressive leadership 

 must replace independent uncorrelated ef- 

 fort. I propose therefore that the Botan- 

 ical Socie'ty of America, the American Phy- 

 topathological and other botanical societies 

 now in session at Pittsburgh appoint com- 

 mittees of experts in the various botanical 

 fields to effect the necessary organization 

 and to provide the leadership required. 

 These committees shall consider the rela- 

 tive imporitance of the problems falling in 

 their respective fields, whether or not those 

 problems are now under investigation. 



