VI 



Handbook of Australian Fungi. When one considers that the material 

 had to be sent such long distances, and often limited in quantity, as well 

 as imperfectly preserved, it is surprising the number of rusts recorded, 

 and the general accuracy of the descriptions. It is a matter within my 

 personal experience, that in order to do justice to the rusts, it is necessary 

 to have plenty of material and to have it fresh, and there is always a 

 decided advantage in collecting your own specimens. The Australian 

 rusts recorded in the Handbook published in 1892 were 72, and the 

 number now has reached 161. 



To all those who have contributed specimens, my best thanks are due. 

 The late Mr. Luehmann, F.L.S., Government Botanist of Victoria, allowed 

 me free access to the specimens in the National Herbarium and Mr. Bailey, 

 F.L.S., the Government Botanist of Queensland, who has done so much 

 in every division of botany, always willingly aided me with specimens or 

 information; the Government Botanist of New South Wales, Mr. Maiden, 

 F.L.S., as well as R. T. Baker, F.L.S., of the Technological Museum, 

 and A. G. Hamilton also supplied me with any material required from the 

 sister State, as well as Dr. Morrison, of Western Australia, and Mr. 

 Rod way, F.L.S., of Tasmania. Messrs. Molineux and Quinn, of South 

 Australia, have also contributed, and Mr. J. G. O. Tepper, F.L.S., has 

 generously supplied me with numerous, and often type specimens from his 

 extensive collection. 



My colleague, Mr. French, F.L.S., Government Entomologist, and his 

 assistant, Mr. C. French, junior, never lost an opportunity of securing 

 specimens in their frequent collecting trips; and Messrs. Reader and 

 Musson have added new species to the list. I have also to acknowledge 

 the courtesy of the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, in supplying 

 me with any specimens required for verification or illustration. 



Xo one is more conscious than myself of how much yet remains to 

 be done before the Rusts of Australia are thoroughly understood, but the 

 present work will at least lighten the labours of those who desire to 

 increase that knowledge, and by the combined efforts of various workers 

 in this promising field, their true nature and life-history may be so- 

 revealed that the ravages due to them, in a congenial climate such as ours, 

 may be reduced to a minimum. 



Melbourne, March, 1906. 



