308 



FREDERICK H. BLODGETT 



The general character of the work in the courses, so far as may 

 be gathered from the catalogues, is of two types: (1) To give 

 information as to the groups of fungi to which the parasitic forms 

 belong, as a systematic basis upon which to discuss cause and 

 control of individual diseases. (2) To give a foundation which 

 can be developed in subsequent years into professional training 

 in plant pathology. The first of these is ordinarily the only one 

 for which there is time in a college course, thus excluding the 

 second purpose from the average course. This is especially true 

 in those colleges giving only the last term of the senior year — the 

 shortest term of the college course — to this topic. A mere sketch 

 of the field can be given under such conditions as the frequent 

 interruptions incident to graduation often seriously interfere 

 with work in the laboratories, without which little can be gained 

 of permanent value. ^ 



PLACE IN CURRICULUM 



In nearly every case, when a course in plant pathology is shown 

 in the catalogs, it comes in the senior year, and is often for a 

 half-year only. Some of the colleges do not offer general courses 

 in plant pathology, but give consideration to diseases of forest 

 trees, or fruit trees, or vegetables. In most cases the course 

 immediately preceding is mycology, or its equivalent under other 

 designation. Work in bacteriology, at least for one term, is also 

 an essential antecedent or associated subject to the courses as 

 usually offered. 



In some of the colleges no attempt is made to teach plant 

 pathology as a college course — the only courses offered being for 

 graduate students. As these are among the strongest of the 

 institutions under consideration, this omission deserves attention. 



The following summary may be taken as representing the work 

 in plant pathology in an average institution of the type in mind, 

 naturally not fitting any one of them exactly. A chart has been 

 prepared to show the main features of the course as distributed 

 through the last years in high school, the full college course, and 

 two years of post-graduate work leading to a master's degree in 

 plant pathology. 



