179 
be absolutely necessary as a basis for applied lines in plant industry. These courses 
must have not less than 80 hours each. It would appear practicable in the general 
college course above referred to to put psychology on the same basis as ethics, giving 
it 40 instead of 60 hours, and further t<> put geology on the Bame basis as meteorology, 
giving it 60 instead of 120 hours. This will make a saving of 80 hours, which can 
be devoted to botany. Then, by adding 20 hours to the total junior course, 160 
hours can be devoted to botany in the junior year. One other course is believed t<» 
be desirable in order to furnish a good solid foundation on which work inapplied 
botany can be based. This course should cover a period of about one-half year 2 
hours' lecture and 4 hours' laboratory or field work per week) and should consist of a 
special study of the classification and distribution of gyninosperms and angiosperms 
with special reference to those of economic importance and those which have given 
rise to cultivated varieties. In this course the student should obtain a char idea of 
the origin and relationships of our cultivated plants. In order to provide time for 
this course the 60 hours of modern language in the junior year could be dispensed 
with. One hundred and eighty hours of modern languages in the freshman year 
and 160 hours in the sophomore year should be sufficient in a general course. The 
60 hours thus saved could be devoted to the botanical course last mentioned. If the 
arrangement suggested can not be adopted, the last-mentioned botanical course 
should be omitted rather than either of the 80-hour courses. 
Starting from these courses as bases, it will be possible for a student to begin to spe- 
cialize in those branches of botanical work that will be most useful to him in the gen- 
eral end for which he is working; for example, a student who wants to specialize in 
agronomic lines would go on from this point with a more thorough and systematic 
study of cereals, grasses, and forage plants, weeds, poisonous plants, etc., and a stu- 
dent in general horticulture might take up further studies in physiology or especially 
along the pathological lines so far as they relate to horticultural work, and if the stu- 
dent desires to specialize or to prepare himself for investigation work or for teaching 
botany, he could elect his further work in such lines as he might choose. In histo- 
logical lines he could take up the study of cytology, histology, embryology, histo- 
genesis, etc. In taxonomic lines he could take up systematic botany, morphology 
and classification, and ecology. In physiological lines he could continue with physi- 
ology and pathology. It has been found profitable in many colleges to have a student 
devote the senior year to the careful investigation of some problem as a thesis. This 
is the best plan to follow, especially where students propose to go into some branch 
of practical agriculture. If the student has in mind becoming an investigator or 
teacher, the special investigation work is best carried out as postgraduate and the 
regular college time given to strengthening the general course. The courses here out- 
lined are designed not to produce teachers and investigators, but to furnish a good 
foundation training for further development. 
A resolution was passed adopting the report and expressing appreciation of the 
work of the committee. 
H. L. Hutt, of Ontario, gave a full discussion of the methods of teaching horticul- 
ture in the Ontario Agricultural College. 
F. W. Rane, of New Hampshire, was elected chairman of the section, with F. L. 
Stevens, of North Carolina, as secretary. 
The following resolution was passed: 
" That a committee of five, of which the chairman of the section should be one, 
be appointed by the chair to outline courses in horticulture." 
At this point attention being called to the fact that the old section.-, as such, had 
been abolished, it was, on motion, declared to be the sense of the section that the 
chairman and secretary, just elected, be constituted a committee to look after the 
interests of the section. 
The section then adjourned. 
