The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-27
Botany as a War Science
BY J. +. HARDWOOD
Professor Of Botany in University Of Montana.

To the average layman the word
botany" Is synonymous with the clas-
sification OF flowers. This concep-
ton Is no longer true. IL 1t ever was
entirely SO. Modern beauty had its
beginnings In the effort to identify
plants for medicinal purposes: tho
plants used by the ancients, Theo-
phrastus, Pliny. Calen and others
and out Of this study grew the rccog-
milton Of orders, families. and other
cycles of Relationship in the vegetable
kingdom.
But systematic botany no longer &C.
cupies the center Of the sta,se. II is
still important and extends to all
plants, from microscopic germs to the
lofty forest trees, but other branches
OF the science have risen to impor
lance which a few years ago were
hardly known.
Study Broadening.
Interest In the nature and work Of
plants has given impetus to the study
of their physiology and structure, to
their behavior under experiment, their
geographic distribution and mutual re-
lations and association in field and
forest. their evolution naturally and
experimentally, their diseases, their
economic value, and many intricate
problems associated with life processes
and heredity are being investigated in
extensive and we'll equipped laborato-
ries throughout the civilized world.
1t is hardly realized by most people
that the heart of scientific agriculture
lies In the field of botany. The knowl-
edge of plant physiology is applied to
crop production, the knowledge of
principles of heredity is applied to the
of crops and the knowl-
edge of plant diseases Is applied to
their protection.
One-half of forestry is applied bot
any: the other half is utilization. Sill
viculturc deals with the production of
the forest On this production the
business of utilization depends. Silvi-
culture calls for u knowledge Of plants
as applied TO trees in the forest. Phar-
macy Is another subject. which in its
materials and It's methods is depend
ent upon a familiarity with medicinal
plants, their structure and compost
products which make up II large part
of the materia medica. and those which
are important both as necessities and
luxuries from tooth powders to spices
aud oils. From commercial interests
Of this sort, it is not far to other in
dustrial relations of plants, as repre-
scented by rubber textiles. etc.
Pathology and War.
In speaking of botany, as IL war sci
cnce, probably the most significant
way In which its Importance is mani
fest Is In the field of pathology. A
conservative estimate places the an
nual loss of cereals in this country
due to the grain rusts at $4,000, 900
The average farmer probably does not
realize that his crop. Is diseased until
the loss is over 10 per cent. II three
to five bushels of wheat are lost on
an acre and il diseased acres are null
tiplied throughout the country, as iu-
vcstigations show they arc, 1t is not
hard to see that such a loss Will ueu-
tralizc the effect OF "a good many
wheatless days in our diet. SHUTS
likewise cause a considerable loss il
ruins potato crops In some parts OF
the country. They attack fruit trees
and whole orchards have to be de-
stroysd. Apples in storage are sus-
ceptibic to particular kinds of decay
and garden crops Of al. kinds are dam
aged in some form or other and OF
greater or less extent. The organisms
which cause these diseases are plants
and fall within the scope of botanical
science. The study of their, propoga
ton and conditions of life calls for the
attention of trained botanical hives
tigators before the diseases can be
successfully combated. AS Ii now
stands, many of the plant diseases art
susceptible to treatment and control
if recognized in time and properly
handled, but some of them In this re-
spcct offer problems still unsolved.
As Conservation Aid.
Impressed as we are with the impor-
lance of food In winning the war, ant
urged by the food administrator to
saved at every turn and to eliminate
waste, we are still face tn face with the
enormous loss and waste due to para
site plant diseases attacking thu
crops most important from the wa,
standpoint. The recognition of this
fact was expressed in no uncertain
terms at the recent Pittsburgh meet
ings OF the American Association for
the Advancement of Science, and the
American Phytopathological society has
taken steps To see that its fullest pow
ers ere cNerted in the present emer-
gency.
While forest products, lumber, etc.
are not In danger of immediate short
age To "A degree that would cndanser
the country, nevertheless some very
destructive diseases, recently import
ed, are now at work in the eastern
states. One of these has already re-
suited in the complete destruction of
all chestnut trees over certain large
areas in the Atlantic states, and the
"A I.eohprn fnir fipyarS n s-na3