NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

A. J. RIKER ae we , SECTION OF BOTANY
DEPARTMENT OF PLANT PATHOLOGY Te teat epees sec utamnarynr emma serps
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
MADISON 6, WISCONSIN November 7, 1961

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
Medical Center
Stanford University
Palo Alto, California

Dear Joshua:

You certainly have a valuable and important point for the
unification of the biological sciences. I only hope this
can be accomplished somehow. Botany at the present time
seems to be hopelessly split up with some forty-five
different societies in North America alone interested in
one or another aspect of our subject.

Of course, we regret to lose from the Section of Botany
so distinguished a member as yourself. However, this will
have nothing whatever to do with the long, long¢standing
personal friendships you have with the various members of
our Section.

Since you did not wish to vote on the Informal Ballot, I
am assuming that you will also prefer not*to vote on our
Formal Ballot and so will not send you one. However, I
shall not remove your name from our list until I am advised
by the Home Secretary that the transfer has been made.
Regardless of what Section we may be in, we all can work
for the welfare of the Academy and for American science.

Cordially yours,

A. J. Riker, Chairman
‘. / Section of Botany

   

AJRiges

ce: Dr. H. L. Dryden