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THE IMPERIAL BUREAU OF MYCOLOGY. 
By E. J. Butler, C.1.E., D.Sc., M-Biyiataes 
The movement which led to the establishment of the Imperial 
Bureau of Mycology originated from several different sources. 
In the first place it had long been felt by many that the 
remarkable success that had attended the formation of the Im- 
perial Bureau of Entomology, in encouraging and co-ordinating 
entomological work in relation to agriculture throughout the 
Empire was justification for the establishment of a similar 
organization to deal with the other great class of destructive 
agencies in agriculture, namely the diseases of plants caused by 
fungi. Then the shortage of supplies during the war emphasized 
the importance of conserving raw products obtained from the 
vegetable kingdom, for the provision of which this country is so 
dependent on the agricultural prosperity of the Overseas Empire. 
The bearing of economic mycology, especially plant pathology, 
in this matter was brought into prominence by a discussion at 
the Newcastle meeting of the British Association in 1916, at 
which specific proposals were made for the establishment of an 
Imperial Bureau of Mycology as a co-ordinating and stimulating 
agency for helping on the study of the diseases of plants 
throughout the Empire. At the same time some of the my- 
cological workers in the overseas parts of the Empire began to 
press for improved facilities in England to replace the help in 
certain directions which they had been accustomed to obtain 
from foreign countries, some of which became enemy countries 
in I9I4. 
Thus the movement from within met with a similar movement 
from outside. The proposal to establish a Bureau of Mycology 
in London was laid before the Imperial War Conference in 1918, 
and, backed by the support of that powerful body, was referred 
to the Overseas Governments for consideration. The latter 
approved, and undertook to finance the Bureau for a period of 
three years in the first instance. On the initiative of the Colonial 
Office a Managing Committee was formed, comprising a number 
of well-known biologists with Viscount Harcourt as their 
Chairman, and the Bureau commenced work towards the end 
of last year. Quarters have been found for it in the former 
laboratory of the Plant Pests Branch of the Ministry of Agri- 
culture at 17, Kew Green, as this Branch has been transferred 
to Harpenden. At Kew the Bureau has the advantage of 
proximity to the fine library and collections of the Royal 
