Excerpt from Bacteria in Relation to Plant Diseases, Vol. 2

This volume really begins the subject of bacterial diseases of plants, the first volume having had for its aim only the clearing of the ground by a discussion of methods of work and the general subject of bacteriology. Whatever in that volume relates to specific dis eases of plants was introduced merely by way of illustration, or to provoke interest in what should follow.

The first part of this second volume deals with general questions relative to bacterial diseases of plants; the history of the subject, the distribution of bacteria on the surface of plants, the questions involved in the terms parasitism and symbiosis, the action of the bacteria on various tissues, the reactions of the plant, the interrelations of animal and plant parasites, and, finally, the problems relating to prevention. The wilt of cucurbits, the black rot of crucifers, and the yellow disease of hyacinths are then dealt with in separate chapters.

In researches of this kind, covering as they do a relatively new and rapidly enlarging branch of science, the point of view changes with great frequency. T o day the interest will be centered on one phase of the subject, to-morrow, perhaps, on some quite different aspect. Fortunate for the experimenter if the new aspect do not require entrance into unfamiliar fields of discouraging complexity. For anyone to cover adequately by the experimental method a whole branch of science if it be a large one, is manifestly impossible. There will always be portions slurred over. The best that one can do is that which I have tried to do, via, to point out at frequent intervals gaps in our knowledge, to express things clearly and honestly, to distinguish between verified fact and speculation, and, finally, to leave each subject in somewhat better shape than I found it.

The following pages are based in great part on data Obtained as the result of a multi tude of experiments made by the writer and his assistants, but all sources of published information have been considered.

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