Vol. 5, No. i.] 
JOUKNAL OP MYCOLOGY. 
[March, 1889. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
As has already been announced, the Journal of Mycology will 
henceforth be published by the Section of Vegetable Pathology, and 
will be issued quarterly instead of monthly. 
The publishing of this journal is something of a departure from the 
work ordinarily done by this Section, and has been undertaken for 
somewhat different purposes. 
The growth of the study of Mycology during the past twenty years 
has been phenomenal, and as it forms the very foundation for that more 
practical study, the proper means of combating the parasites which are 
causing such serious losses to cultivated plants, it seems highly proper 
that the Department at Washington should furnish all the stimulus 
possible for the prosecution of the study. 
The law establishing experiment stations makes special mention of 
the study of plant diseases. In some stations work in this direction 
has already been started, and more will probably be undertaken in the 
near future. The literature on this subject is scattered through many 
journals and papers in half a dozen languages. It is not, therefore, 
easily accessible or procurable by the stations, and is altogether out 
of the reach of many private workers in this field. These and other 
reasons have made it seem desirable to bring together in some regular 
publication the latest and best knowledge of mycological experts, to¬ 
gether with some account of the most important literature. 
From what has been said it is apparent that the aim of this publica¬ 
tion will be to reach and assist the workers in this difficult field rather 
than to prepare matter more directly for the general reader. The lat¬ 
ter is already provided for by the issue of bulletins and in various other 
ways, both by this Department and by the stations themselves. 
