It is a noteworthy fact that there has been
available to student and reader no general text or reference book of American
origin upon fungous diseases of plants. Nevertheless, for thirty years or more
there has been active investigation in this field, and during much of this time
instruction in plant pathology has been an important part of biological
teaching in all colleges where plant industry or country-life interests have
been adequately represented. In the agricultural colleges the teaching of
general mycology has been important, and that of plant pathology is now
essential. The presentation should be fundamental, but it should also bear a
close relation to the affairs of life. Plant pathological work has been rapidly
developed in all countries characterized by a progressive agriculture, and for
European conditions the student experiences no great lack of reference works.
Through the agricultural experiment stations and
through the extension work in various states a vast amount of information with
respect to plant diseases has been published and otherwise disseminated, so
that to every intelligent plant producer the opportunity has been extended of
becoming more familiar with the crop relations of destructive parasitic fungi. The
student and the progressive grower require something further, and it has
therefore seemed none too early to put in book form a comprehensive discussion
of the chief fungous diseases of cultivated and familiar plants. It is not
intended that this book shall be an introduction to systematic mycology; yet
the arrangement of the material in taxonomic sequence with respect to the fungi
largely eliminates the necessity of any mycological preparation as a
prerequisite.
As far as practicable, in the discussion of each
disease, three important considerations have been kept in view: (i) to describe
the pathological effects and other relations of host and parasite; (2) to make
clear the life history of the causal fungus; and (3) to indicate the approved
or suggested methods of prevention or control. The author fully recognizes that
in any complete discussion of a fungus disease there are definite theoretical
subdivisions, such as symptoms, pathological morphology, etiology, life cycle
of the causal organism, etc. Nevertheless, such a system does not at present
recommend itself. In the nomenclature of popular names of diseases uniformity, or
special fitness, at a sacrifice of established usage, has been avoided. An
extensive host index has been included in order to present in a succinct form
all of the diseases discussed upon any host. It is, perhaps, needless to add
that the chapters upon culture methods, technique, and physiological relations
are designed primarily for reference, and to stimulate the most complete use of
the available material. The bibliography is intended to be suggestive, and the
titles are made prominent that the suggestion may not be avoided.
Aside from photographs and drawings made by the
author, the illustrations have been derived from a variety of sources. Special
acknowledgment is made to Mr. F. C. Stewart, of the New York Agricultural
Experiment Station, and to Professors H. H. Whetzel and George F. Atkinson, of
Cornell University, for the privilege of using many negatives from their
collections. Many others have kindly furnished material for one or more
illustrations, as credited in the legends. In the preparation of the drawings
much assistance has been given by Mrs. B. M. Duggar. For helpful suggestions
respecting the manuscript and for a first draft of the synopsis of species
among the Uredinales, the writer is indebted to Professor George M. Reed, of
the University of Missouri.