A Backward Look and a Forward Look 



By DAVID L. CRAWFORD 

 Professor of Botany in Pomona College 



With this issue the third and final volume of the Pomona Journal of 

 Economic Botany is closed. In a new form, however, and under a new name it 

 will be continued. Begun in 1911 by Professor Charles Puller Baker, the 

 Journal has contributed richly to the advancement of subtropical horticulture 

 in California. Each number has been filled with valuable and interesting infor- 

 mation and illustrations. Professor Baker's connection with the Journal ended 

 in 1912 when he accepted a position in the University of the Philippines as 

 Professor of Agronomy in the College of Agriculture. Unfortunately for the 

 Journal, it was impossible for his successor to issue the quarterly numbers when 

 they were due, because of certain difficulties. During the two years in which 

 the second editor issued the Journal only four numbers appeared, dated and 

 numbered according to their due time of issue. The third editor, the present 

 writer, now takes up this work. 



It is gratifying, in retrospect, to see the signal success to which this Journal 

 attained from its beginning. This success was due chiefly to two factors, namely, 

 the unique ability of the first editor, and the great need in this country for si;ch 

 a publication. There are few men' living who have a greater capacity for work 

 and who are more tireless in their work than Charles F. Baker. He is a man who 

 sees big visions and who, instead of dreaming, sets about with .joyful zeal and a 

 bulldog determination to make these visions realities. As a friend, one can want 

 no better. As an enemy, one never is in doubt as to his opinions and sentiments. 

 He is open-hearted and large-hearted. One feels a strong stimulus to a better and 

 a larger life when he comes into contact with this man. 



Mr. Baker saw the need for a publication of this kind in California, wliich 

 would disseminate practical knowledge concerning the subtropical trees and 

 plants and fruit crops which are or might be useful on the Pacific Coast. The 

 Pomona Journal of Economic Botany was the only journal of its kind in the en- 

 tire country and met with much demand, for this is essentially a subtropical 

 region and not far away in several directions are tropical countries. The horti- 

 culture of this country is sure to become more and more like that of the tropics, 

 and to hasten this development was the object of the new publication. 



This need is increasing in all southern countries, especially in the southern 

 portions of the United States. Tropical agriculture and horticulture are becom- 

 ing very iinportant in tlie economy of th.e world today. More people are going 

 south to engage in the more profitabh? tropical agi-iculture and more money is 



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