Since these Stations and Laboratories are, as a rule, maintained by the circle of practical men for whom they work, the investigators appointed thereto are often subjected to regrettable pressure. Even though, otherwise, a certain amount of freedom is allowed them in these institutions, they labour under the great difficulty of being obliged whilst engaged in the task of scientific investigation to be ready at any moment to give assistance coupled with analyses and any wished-for disclosures to the parties interested. Still further difficulties arise when practical men foolishly intermeddle in scientific investigations, and especially when results that shall be immediately available for practical utilisation are impatiently demanded results which, however, are only attainable by scientific investigation, and cannot be forced on at pleasure. Under circumstances of this nature it requires great strength of character not to give way to outside pressure, and many examples are met with in the literature of the subject where this firmness has been lacking.The result of these vexed relations between Scientists and practical men has been to call into existence a quasi-scientific literature by which neither Science nor Practice has benefited a result which every one who has the healthy development of this subject at heart must greatly deplore and endeavour to improve according to his ability. These conditions are, however, in existence, and we must take them into account. Amongst the chaff which occupies a large part of the aforesaid technical journals, there is, nevertheless, some really good grain to be found, and he who undertakes to write a work on Technical Mycology must not content himself with gathering from purely scientific sources alone, but must, at the same time, work through the technical journals as well. This (by no means easy) task has been accomplished by DR. LAFAR with commendable discernment and ability.In the last few years, certainly, we have had various Text-books and Manuals giving a summary of larger or smaller sections of Technical Microbiology ; none of them, however, has treated the whole of this extensive field from so comprehensive a point of view. To prepare a work like the present requires not only many-sided discernment, but also enthusiasm for the task, combined with courage and endurance properties with which the book shows the author to be endowed. The work will be welcomed, not only by those for whom it is primarily intended viz., Technical Chemists, Chemists dealing with food-stuffs, fermentation, and agriculture, viii PREFACE Pharmacists, and Agriculturists but many a professor also will derive benefit from its pages for his lectures and researches. In this respect the copious bibliographical references will also be of good service.In the present volume we have unfortunately only the numbers of the references, it being intended that the Bibliography shall be published as an Appendix to the second volume. This increases the desirability of the early appearance of the lat The Publishers...