PREFACE. 



The Rusts are among the most widespread and destructive of our fungus 

 parasites, and in order to mitigate the injury caused by them as much as 

 possible, it is necessary to know their nature and mode of life. 



The rust of wheat has naturally received a large share of attention on 

 account of its influence upon one of our staple industries; but it is still 

 only one of a number that require to be studied. Hence, at the several 

 Rust in Wheat Conferences held in the different States, investigations were 

 invariably recommended to be made " regarding all plants that are affected 

 by rust in the different colonies," because it was felt that such a wide 

 outlook was necessary even for understanding properly the history of a 

 single species. The present work, then, which has been in hand for 

 a number of years, aims at recording all rusts, as far as known in Australia 

 at present, and this will prepare the way for a consideration of the best 

 methods of preventing their appearance, or limiting their spread in the 

 numerous commercial crops subject to their ravages. 



The familiar saying that to know any subject well we must know the 

 details of it, is very applicable in this case. The necessary details are 

 given here to enable one to recognise the different forms the rusts assume, 

 and the different stages through which they generally pass in order to 

 complete their life-history. Besides, there is a special object in view 

 in thus recording and describing the Rust-fungi of Australia, for this 

 can afterwards be used as a basis in working out the life-history of those 

 particular forms which attack our cultivated and economic plants, and 

 often do considerable damage. 



All the species known to occur in Australia are included, and when 

 proved to be aliens, they are noted as introduced in the index. 

 Every species of which specimens are available is also figured in its 

 essential parts, so that there may be no doubt as to the form intended. 

 In this I have been ably aided by my assistant, Mr. G. H. Robinson, 

 who has supplied the numerous photomicrographs reproduced here, 

 which give such a vivid representation of the peculiar and distinguishing 

 characters of the spores. A number of drawings have likewise been 

 executed by Mr. C. C. Brittlebank, who has had considerable experience 

 in drawing from microscopic preparations. 



The principal works consulted, or referred to, are given in the 

 Bibliography at the end, and those wishing for fuller references, will find 

 them in Klebah'n's Die wirtswechselnden Rostpihe [The Heteroecious 

 Rusts], 1904. This will give a good idea of what has already been done 

 in the investigation of the rust's, but no one can fail to appreciate the 

 work accomplished by that veteran mycologist, Dr. Cooke, in his 



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