337] B. HE. Livingston 139 
first approached the subject through the avenues of mor- 
phological study. Perhaps it is because of this that begin- 
ners are often led to devote several years to academic work 
in morphological pursuits before they are allowed to be- 
come acquainted with the physiological aspect of biology, so 
that they discover the need of an intimate knowledge of 
physics and chemistry only at a rather late stage in their de- 
velopment. It is a significant fact that very few of the present 
workers in plant physiology have been led to their interest 
in the subject from an introductory study of the physical 
sciences, although physiology offers some of the most im- 
portant physical and chemical problems. 
Considering the general applicability of physical as well as 
morphological knowledge to physiological study, it is becom- 
ing more and more evident that a tyro in physiology should 
be encouraged to devote much more attention to physics and 
chemistry, in the earlier years of his preparation, than is now 
generally the case—which necessarily means that he should 
not be encouraged to devote so much time to biological mor- 
phology as he does in most institutions where young natural 
scientists receive their training. 
The considerations just set forth have been given promi- 
nence in planning the training leading to the doctorate from 
this department, and, while no formal prerequisites are stated, 
the need of as much knowledge of chemistry and physics 
as the student can obtain is constantly emphasized. At the 
same time he is urged to become well acquainted with the 
main facts and general principles of animal physiology and 
with those of the comparative anatomy and histology of 
plants, as thus far available. Since climatic conditions exert 
such controlling influences upon the behavior of plants, that 
physical branch which is termed climatology must also re- 
ceive much emphasis. 
It is the general plan of the department to erect no arti- 
ficial barriers before the prospective student; the work is so 
organized that any person who understands elementary phys- 
