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The Thompson Institute for Plant Research. 



The Thompson Institute for Plant Research was founded by 

 Colonel W'illiam Boyce Thompson of Yonkers, New York. It is 

 being built at 1086 North Broadway, Yonkers. 



The Institute is to devote itself to fundamental research on 

 plants. In the beginning the greater emphasis will be placed on 

 the physiological, pathological and biochemical phases of the 

 subject, for it is felt that these phases of the subject most need 

 additional attention. In pathology especial attention will be 

 given to the physiological and chemical aspects, involving a 

 study of the effect of nutritional, growth and hereditary factors 

 upon development of fungal, bacterial and viris diseases. 



While the main emphasis is to be placed on the phases of the 

 subject mentioned above, the staff will be so chosen as to bring 

 together the knowledge and technic of all phases of the subject 

 of plant science. It is hoped to focus this diversity of know- 

 ledge and technic upon the solution of problems of plant develop- 

 ment and disease. It is beheved that, because of the com- 

 plexity of biological problems, such cooperative attacks are now 

 necessary for anthing like a speedy and thorough solution of them. 

 The same is true of many problems in medicine and the industries 

 but in these such cooperative attacks are more common. 



Besides the most modernly equipped laboratories and green- 

 houses for plant research, there will also be a number of green- 

 houses and other chambers in which all growth factors are under 

 control: light (duration, quality and intensity), carbon dioxide 

 concentration, temperature of soil and air, water vapor of air, 

 and soil nutrients. In this way all factors can be accurately 

 studied in their relation to development and disease. Control 

 of these factors over a v.dde range of intensity will make it pos- 

 sible to study plants of very different nutrient constitution in 

 both health and disease. 



One Hundred Years Ago. "The present rage for cutting up 

 genera has gained such an ascendancy, that I am compelled to 

 >ield to it, though with pain and regret. Every artificial 

 character is seized with greediness and apphedwith great ingenu- 

 it}^ in mangling the Linnean system of genera. I consider it the 

 ephemera] reign of Innovators, which our successors will re- 

 member but to despise. And most of these new names which 



