PREFACE 



DR. LAFAR has paid me the compliment of forwarding me a copy of the 

 first volume of his " TECHNICAL MYCOLOGY," with a request that I should 

 write a preface to the work. A perusal of the book gives me the impres- 

 sion that its contents will in themselves be a sufficient recommendation, 

 and ensure the success of the work through its own inherent value ; con- 

 sequently, an Introduction by me is so far superfluous. Should, however, 

 a few words of mine be the means of helping to secure for the work of my 

 young colleague a readier introduction, here and there, than it would 

 perhaps otherwise find, I shall be exceedingly pleased. 



The First Volume treats of BACTERIA. In a series of chapters we are 

 shown the predominant roles both useful and antagonistic played by 

 these organisms in Distilling and Brewing ; in the preparation of Wiues 

 and the Manufacture of Vinegar ; in the Dairy ; in Farming ; in the 

 preparation of Agricultural Fodder ; and in the manufacture of Tobacco 

 and of Sugar. Then follows an account of the relation of Bacteria to 

 sundry transformations occurring in Nature, particularly the important 

 facts recently established in connection with the combination of free 

 nitrogen by bacterial agency, with the iron and sulphur bacteria and the 

 bacteria of nitrification. 



It might be feared that, in a work aiming at objects so decidedly 

 practical, the theoretical side of the subject would possibly be overlooked. 

 This is, however, not the case in the present instance, as a glance at the 

 Table of Contents will suffice to show. 



That the Author possesses a grasp of the historical development of the 

 subject has already been evidenced in his previous treatises, and the same 

 feature often appears in the present volume. 



In the majority of the Text-books and Manuals published in recent 

 years, great confusion exists with regard to the appending of authors' 

 names to the Illustrations. In one and the same book, for example, \ve 

 meet with instances where the name of the author of the original work 

 whence the copy has been taken is given as it should be and also 



