all the hitherto published data occurs as scattered notes in various 

 publications, and many notes are here published for the first time. 



The identification of the fungi mentioned in this paper has been 

 accomplished with considerable difficulty, owing to the lack of the 

 necessary literature and authentic specimens for comparison. The 

 material, however, has been worked over and over for a period of 

 nearly seven years, and it is believed that the specimens here reported 

 actually represent the various species as designated and at least as 

 they are commonly accepted. With regard to the new species named 

 by the authors, such action has been taken to facilitate reference to 

 forms of common occurrence which it has not been possible to con- 

 nect with previously established names, although it is freely recog- 

 nized that our scanty resources in the way of mycological literature 

 may have resulted in some errors. It is held, however, that it is 

 preferable to give a complete name to such fungi together with n 

 description and illustration, than to merely refer them to their genera 

 or leave them out entirely. 



Between twenty and thirty other fungi, many of them of tlie 

 family Agaricaceae, have been collected but are in large part omitted 

 from the present paper, because of insufficient material for study. 

 None are of any known economic importance, and for the most part 

 have been collected but once. A list of these is given in so far as it 

 has been possible to place them in the proper genera. 



PREVIOUS WORK IN PORTO RIO(3. 



In as much as the present paper is based upon investigations 

 carried on since November, 1910, and as there have been no studies 

 along this line in Porto Rico since that time, other than those of 

 the authors' or than those carried out in cooperation with them, it 

 will include the whole history of the study of cane fungi and diseases, 

 if a short resume of work prior to the above date is given, together 

 with an account of the various publications issued from this Experi- 

 ment Station since that time. 



It has been difficult to obtain information eitlu3r oral or published 

 concerning the epidemic of 1872-80, although it is known to have 

 been most severe. It was investigated by a eonnnission of three 

 members, including Dr. Agustin Stahl and a report issued in 

 1878 (1^). In spite of their earnest endeavors no cause was found 

 and their principal recommendation was the introduction and cul- 

 tivation of new and more resistent varieties. 



1 Figures in parenthesis refer to literature cited, page 238. 



179 



