otli. Tbo luUhority foi- tbo name is next stated. "With so many diflcrcut names oftoir applied to the same
Fungus, uud even the same name often applied by diifcrent authors to entirely different plants, it is necessary to
give tbo nutborify for (ho particular name, in order to indicate tbe precise Fungus meant. The name of the
authority is usually given in a coutraetcd form, and it will be noticed that it is sometimes printed in italics. Tbo
reason of this i.s that it is customary in works on Fungi often to give two authorities, the first to indicate tbe
i)riginal descriher of the Fungus, and the second where some one has classified it differently on good scientific
grounds. 1 .simply give one authority, the name of the original dcscribor being printed in Roman characters ; and,
wliere tlic original name has been set aside, the correct classifier is given in italics.. The year of publication is
also stated.
As an illustration of (he variety of naming, I may mention one kind of Rust of Wheat mot with in the
colony, and the following nine names have been given to it by tbo authors whose names are appended :—
Uredo rnhigo-vera. Do Candolle. I’ ucciiiia rubigo-vera, Winter,
Uredo rnbigo, Berkeley, Puccinia strifeformis, Westcndorp,
Ca'oma rnbigo, Link, Puccinia stramiuis, Fiickel,
Trichobasis rnbigo-vera, Leveillc, iliccidium aspcrifolii, Persoon.
'ri'ichobasis glumaruin, Lovcille,
By a recognised principle the name of Puccinia rubigo-vera is adopted, although Dr. Cooke in Ins
Ilamlbook uses the name of Puccinia stramiyiis.
6tli. Tbe English name follows. This is merely an attempt to give an English rendering to the specific
name, and something of the kind is necessary in naming Fuugus diseases to the average farmer or fruit-grower;
but, as these diseases become better known as to their cause, some characteristic feature of the disease may be
used as a distinguishing iiarae, such as Leaf-curl, Shot-liole, Bitter-rot, Club-root, &c.
7th. The “ Habitat” is next given, the various colonies in which the species have been found being recorded.
It has been thought advisable to add B. for British when it occurs there, as there may have been preventives or
remedies applied in the old country which it would he profitable for us to know. I make no apology for dealing
with Australian Fungi, including the five colonies of the Australian Continent and Tasmania, for Fungi do not
respect our political boundaries and restrict themselves to artificial limits. There must be federation in the
trcalment of disease if it is to be thoroughly effectual, and this has been happily illustrated in dealing with (he
Rust ill Wheat question, in which all the colonies are united for devising measures against a common enemy.
8th. The “ Occurrence” follows, indicatiug on what plants or parts of plants the different kinds of Fungi may
be looked for. This is afterwards collectively shown in the Ilost-index, each plant having all its known diseases
due to Australian Fungi ranged under it.
9tb. “ General characters ” conclude the Avhole, giving such superficial and easily-recognised characters as may
serve as a guide in the rough discrimination of many species requiring immediate attention to check their spread.
From the very nature of this work and from onr present very limited knowledge of the Fungi of Australia there
will he constant additions made (in fact, I have quite a number of new species awaiting determination myself),
and this will be met by the issue o f supplements, when necessary, on the same lines. As Dr. Cooke truly says in
bis introdnction to the Handbook—“ It is quite probable that in the course of a few years, by working up the
minute species, the total number contained in this volume would be more than doubled, even without the
investigation of unexplored districts.”
It ought also to be borne in mind that many of the more conspicuous Fungi—such as what arc popularly
called JIushrooms and Toadstools—work considerable mischief, although unseen and unnoticed. Thus, the Honey
Agaric {Armillaria mellea), which is even considered edible, does a deal of damage, and by attacking the roots
undermines the tree. It spreads from root to root in the soil by means of long purple-black cord-like strands,
even in the absence of the tawny-yellow “ Toadstools,” which are simply the fructification of the Fungus, and I
have seen orchard trees killed by this cause. In the soil and in the rotting roots or wood these strands are found,
attacking the roots and bases o f stems and often causing copious “ gumming” there. The Vegetable Pathologist
should therefore not only be more or less conversant with the Fnngi of the different colonies, as they spread so
readily by means of their spores, but he should be acquainted with Fungi as a whole, since even Mushrooms and
Toadstools arc not beyond his province.
I I .— P r o v is io n a l I I o s t - in d e x o r A u s t r a l ia n F d n c i .
The list of Fnngi, systematically arrangcil, enalilos us to olasslfy liiom under their respectivo Ilost-plants.
Strictly speaking, it is only those wliioh are parasitic, or wlheli prey upon living plants, that should lie included;
hut it is so difficult svitli onr present knowledge to distinguish lietwcen those which cause disease and those wl.ich
attack decaying or dooayod parts, that I have given ail tlio Fungi found upon any particular plant. While special
attention is paid to the Fungi occurring on the various vogetablo products grown in the colony for commercial
purposes, as given in the Government Statist’s returns, the Fungi on so-called “ weeds” are not neglected, because
tliey may and often do pass over to the cnltivated and therefore more delicate forms of vegotation. For example, the
Fungus causing “ Club-root ” In Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Turnips, Radishes, Kale, &o., also infests two of our common
weeds, viz., Shoplierd’s Purse {Capsella Sitrsa-pasioris, Moonch) and Hedge Mustard {Sisymbrium qficm ile, Scop),
and many similar instances could lie given. This fact is strikingly put by Mr. Bailey, who says—“ A s wo find in
the animal kingdom the wild man preferring sheep to kangaroo, the flying fox peaches to (inandoug, the grasshopper
the more sueoulent vegetation of our gardens to the dry herbage of the plains, so in like m.anner wo shall doubtless
find from time to time biight-fungi, at present unknown, will come from the indigenous plants to exotic ones whieii
may he more congenial to their development.”
There can be no doubt that many of the Fnngi on onr native vegetation will attack introduced plants, and
it, would be very desirable, both in the interests of science and of practical utility, to have a record of the Fungi
preying upon our native plants. I have seen .some of our richest soils witli the decaying roots of Eucalypts and
the mycelium of Fungi passing from them to the roots of orchard trees and causing their decay.
The Host-iudex should serve various useful purposes. First of all, it will enable the intelligent grower to
determine with some degree of certainty the cause of the disease when it is due to a Fungus, and that is often tbe first
step towards its eradication. Thus, if his Peach trees are affected with some Fungus disease on the leaves, he tunis
up the Index and finds two Fungi recorded there. He then turns to the General Characters in the “ Systematic
Arrangement” and can easily tell whether it is the “ Peach-leaf Ru st” or the “ Leaf-curl.” Or if his Cabbages and
Cauliflowers begin to turn yellow and the roots become distorted, he finds from the Index that it is due to a Fungus, a
knowledge of which enables him to battle with the disease. Having traced the disease to its source, he may find
treatment already prescribed in some of the Government publications, or can apply to the Department for advice. If
there is no record of the disease in the Index, then the grower knows it is a subject requiring investigation.
Further, the Host-index may be used in assisting growers to “ spot” diseases due to Fungi before they have
spread too far and become established. A great many Fuugus diseases are overlooked for a number of years and
allowed to spread freely before active measures are taken for their suppression, and tluis what might have been easily
nipped in the bud is now difficnlt to eradicate; so that another important use of this publication will be to enable
Fungus diseases to be recognised at the earliest possible moment and action taken accordingly.
Onion Mould, Ergot in Rye and other Grasses, Powdery Mildew in Apple, and various other diseases, are not
recorded in Cooke’s Handbook, and, presumably, have been neglected.
A third use will bo to assist in the carrying out of any legislation -which may he passed for the suppression of
Insect and Fungus pests. Many growers err in ignorance, because they are not aware of the disease being present until
it has got a firm hold, but now a record of the various Fungus pests is available.
And there is a final purpose to be served which is not the least important. New diseases are coutimially
cropping up, and the sooner they are recognised tbe better. I f the disease is not recorded in the Index there is a
stroug probability of its being some new one, and then it can be traced to its source without delay.
The names of the Host-plants are given according to Baron von Mueller’s Second Systematic Census o f
Australian Plants or Hooker and Jackson’s Index Kewensis, as far as published. The Fungi belonging to Victoria
arc indicated bv tlie letter Y.