SummaryThis review presents a general survey of artificial culture methods employed in the investigation of plant nutrition. Several types are described, including liquid‐culture methods and those which depend on a solid inert medium. The advantages of artificial culture procedures for growing plants are pointed out, as one means of studying soil‐plant interrelations, as well as various questions in plant physiology and plant biochemistry. These methods have been indispensable in the study of the chemical elements essential to the growth of higher plants, especially of those elements needed in minute quantities. The techniques of artificial culture are also of great value for the investigation of the absorption of ions by roots. These techniques serve likewise for inquiries into the interreactions of climatic conditions and mineral nutrients. Among other topics considered are the application of artificial culture methods to researches on the functions in plant metabolism of inorganic nutrients, the role of colloids in absorption of ions, horticultural and agronomical problems, and commercial production of cr
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