Transcriber's Notes: Variations in spelling and hyphenation have beenleft as in the original. Ellipses match the original.
A few typographical errors have been corrected. A complete list as wellas other notes follows the text.
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[i]
[ii]
[iii]
London
MACMILLAN AND CO., Limited
NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
1901
All rights Reserved
[iv]GLASGOW: PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS
BY ROBERT MACLEHOSE AND CO.
[v]
It has often been represented to me that the cultivators of plants,among whom are to be included planters and foresters, as well asagriculturists and gardeners of every kind, are more particularlyconcerned with, and interested in, the maladies themselves of the plantsthey grow, than in the life-history of the fungi, insects or otherorganisms to which they are due, or in the physiological processes whichare involved; and although it is impossible to really understand anydisease unless we also understand the processes by which it is broughtabout, there is room for sympathy with the point of view of thecultivator. He says, in effect, "I do not want to know all about thebiology of the fungus of wheat-rust, or of the phylloxera, nor do Iwant to learn what experts can tell me about the action of bacteria insoil, or the process of starch-formation in the leaves: I have neitherthe time nor the means to master these details. What I want is guidanceas to what is wrong with my tomatoes, apple trees, chrysanthemums, firtrees, turnips, etc., [vi]and what I am to do to set things right." Justso. With the latter part of this cry one must sympathize, much as adoctor does with the wail of the parent who calls him in to cure hissick child—we need not stop to classify or compare the motives of theparent and t