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AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
[Vol. 8 
of more complete, exact study, to lead to new knowledge of fundamental 
utility. There still remain many problems concerning each disease and 
many concerning disease in general, but they are for the most part deep and 
fundamental, not superficial. 
Pathology has used cytology to determine relationships and clarify 
understanding, histology to aid in the interpretation of the morbid, and is 
constantly dependent upon taxonomy and physiology. Yet, owing to an 
organization demanding direct application and lacking in opportunity of 
specialization, and conducive to dissipation of energies over many really 
distinct fields, these fundamental branches of our science fail to keep abreast 
of the needs. Taxonomy of the parasites, never satisfactory, in the light 
of recent discoveries regarding biologic specialization and heredity, is much 
less so. Few of the many large genera of imperfect fungi, as Phyllosticta, 
Septoria, Cercospora, have been studied even from a morphological view- 
point. Their cytology, enzymology, life histories, ecology, variability, 
genetics, are almost unknown. The studies made with a few genera offer 
suggestions as to what may be done morphologically in such fields, while 
studies in biologic specialization with the rusts and powdery mildews indi- 
cate the need of similar studies with the fungi imperfecti. 
The problems of disease resistance and wherein it lies are obviously 
important. Why, for example, may pear blight proceed at the rate of 
several centimeters a day down a twig, then suddenly cease to proceed 
further? Why are some Alternarias parasitic, others not? Questions of 
inheritance of disease resistance are very complex, and much fundamental 
work of high value needs to be done. Enzymes and toxins will repay much 
study. That group of mysterious diseases including the mosaics and peach 
yellows holds a secret the discovery of which may well be revolutionary 
in pathology. 
Had I time or you patience, scores of problems of equal importance 
could be mentioned. Many great problems exist, and that they will slowly 
give way to patient, scholarly attack may with confidence be expected. 
But since the problems now before us are more intricate than those of the 
past generation, they demand concentration, larger breadth of equipment, 
longer periods of sustained research on a given problem, in a word, greater 
specialization, and this often needs be accompanied by cooperation of 
widely separated branches of science or of distinct sciences. 
The pressure for immediate results, well enough in the era now closing, 
and which has served its purpose in demonstrating to the world the value of 
knowledge of pathology, is not the only force that should impel the patholo- 
gist to further work. A great part of all research in pathology is now fos- 
tered by either federal or state aid, yet Sir A. D. Hall, chief scientific 
advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture of Great Britain, says that ''a govern- 
ment is unfitted by its very nature to conduct fundamental research," 
and adds that "the scientific man in self-protection ... is tempted to 
