The Present and Future of Botany in America

Abstract

IF we go back a generation, say to the early '80's, we find up to this time most of the work published by American botanists was taxonomic. For some time before this, however, evidences of an awakening to other aspects of the science were evident and the next decade brought an extraordinary extension of botanical interest in ther lin s of work. Morphology, physiology, and especially cytology began *to demand attention. This was the period also when the government began to consider seriously the application of botanical science to the great agricultural problems of the country. Most of the agricultural experiment stations, date from this time, and it is unnecessary to point out the great influence which these have had in directing the activities of so many of the ablest workers in the field of botany. As one looks back over this period of some thirty-five years one can not but be struck with the great increase in the number of botanical workers and the enormous number of publications recording the results of their work.