V 



niEFACE. 



This volume on the Smuts follows on the same lines as that on the Rusts 

 of Australia, to which they are only second in importance from the amount 

 of loss caused by them, chiefly in the cereals and grasses. Like the rusts, 

 they are all parasitic, and have obtained the general name of Smuts from 

 the soot-like spores which are produced in such abundance, as well as from 

 the disagreeable odour which sometimes accompanies them. 



From the plant pathologist's point of view, there is no question that these 

 two great divisions of parasitic fungi occupy the leading position on account 

 of the damage produced by them in cultivated crops. The diseases caused 

 by smuts are among the most destructive, since they often destroy the grain 

 itself which is the chief object of cultivation. From a utilitarian point of 

 view alone, they are worthy of the most exhaustive research, in order to 

 define them accurately so as ultimately to prevent their ruinous effects. The 

 smut fungi and smut diseases, together with their prevention, therefore 

 claimed next consideration to the Rusts. 



It must be remembered that Australia is not as yet in the position of 

 • many of the countries of Europe and America, where the different divisions 

 of Botany have been investigated for a considerable period by a number 

 of trained workers. There, the systematic position of the principal groups 

 has been more or less fully wrought out, and starting from this vantage 

 ground, the investigator can devote his attention almost exclusively to a 

 consideration of the conditions and results of the vital activities of the 

 organisms he is dealing with. But in Australia the different groups of Funsi, 

 for instance, are as yet very imperfectly known, and we have still to classify 

 and accurately describe many of them. 



Hence I consider the first duty of the investigator of these diverse organisms 

 in Australia is to fix their position in the general scheme of plant-life and then 

 to identify special structural features with particular physiological functions ; 

 in other words, to determine their life-histories as completelv as possible. 

 No doubt the knowledge thus acquired will be reflected in and possiblv 

 modify our classification ; still, to give definiteness to our researches, the 

 species investigated should be clearly defined. 



The object of the present work, then, is to classify and descril)e all the 

 known species of Australian smuts, to supply photomicrograplis of their 

 spores and other important features so as to fix their identity, and to wive 

 an account of their life-history as far as present knowledge goes, in order that 

 a rational mode of treatment may be adopted for preventing their ravages 

 in our cultivated crops. 



Besides, the photomicrograplis of the different species will alwavs mark 

 out their individuality, no matter what position may -be assigned to them 

 in any future scheme of classification. In a review of my previous work on 

 The Rusts of Australia, it was remarked that " There are far too many photo- 

 micrographs ; a few give verisimihtude to a paper and confirm the bona, 



