CONTENTS 
INTRODUCTION . 
Nature of fungi dealt with. Loss caused by parasitic 
fungi attacking cultivated plants. Progress of the study 
of mycology since the publication of the last book in this 
country. Fungi as microscopic objects. 
PAGE 
I 
PERONOSPORACEAE . 
Examples of primdtive types of aquatic fungi. Sexuality 
dies out as members become accustomed to living on dry 
land. Description of sexual reproductive organs. 
Notes on the leading features of genera. Key to the 
genera of the family. Systematic description of the 
species. 
3 
ERYSIPHACEAE . 
General characteristics of the family. Naked eye appear¬ 
ance of the species. Known as powdery mildews. 
Connexion between the two conditions of the species 
proved. The correct determination of species. Key to 
the gerera. Notes on the genera. Systematic descrip¬ 
tion of the species. 
3 5 
PERISPORIACEAE . 49 
Affinities of the family. Essentially a tropical family. 
The one European destructive member. Fungi feeding 
on “ honey-dew.” Description of the species. 
UREDINACEAE . 52 
General character of the family. Parasitic nature of all 
the members. Injury caused to cultivated plants 
belonging to this family known from early times. Popular 
versus scientific conception as to what constitutes a 
fungus. How fungi gain an entrance into the tissues of 
the plant they infect. Description of the various stages 
constituting the complete life cycle of a fungus belonging 
to the Uredinaceae. Saccardo's arrangement of the 
species included in the genus Puccinia. Infection ex¬ 
periments. Biclogical species. Heteroecism. Parasitism. 
Definition of the family. Notes on the genera. Syste¬ 
matic description of the species. 
USTILAGINACEAE . 184 
Popularly known as ” smuts ” on account of the sooty 
masses of spores. Injury caused to cultivated plants. 
Mode of spore formation. How distinguished from 
the Uredinaceae. Key to the genera. Notes on the genera. 
Systematic description of the species. 
