Essays on the Early History of Plant Pathology and Mycology in Canada

Suzanne Visser is a professional associate at the Kananaskis Centre for
Environmental Research, University of Calgary.

In writing this book, Professor Estey has accomplished a remarkable feat
by compiling a vast amount of literature dealing with the history of
plant pathology and mycology in Canada from the mid-19th century to the
mid–20th century. This information is succinctly summarized into nine
essays devoted to recognizing how modern plant pathology was shaped by
the fields of entomology, horticulture, potato disease research, grain
and forage crop disease research, forest pathology, nematology,
mycology, and plant disease legislation and education.

The essays are chronologically arranged based on the importance of each
topic at various stages during the evolution of plant pathology,
beginning with the pivotal role of entomology during the early stages,
and ending with the application of mycology to plant pathology during
the 1950s. A valuable four-page summary tracing the history of plant
pathology through its many phases concludes the essays. The essay
format, along with the general index and index of names at the end of
the book, allows the reader to focus on specific topics very quickly. An
extensive bibliography and photographs of key scientists who contributed
to the development of plant pathology are also included.

The volume is aimed primarily at the serious student or researcher who
is interested in historical information on plant pathology and mycology.
It is an important reference book for anyone working in these fields.