The Handbook of Vegetation Science is growing. After the first volumes
und er my editorship have appeared the interest of the scientific
community has been revived and many new volume editors have started
their work. The present volume wasjointly designed by Drs. J. White and
W. Beeftink. Due to unforseen developments Dr. White signs now as the
sole editor. The development of this volume within the series had a
special history as Dr. White pointsout in his preface. Adding to this I
need only to state that I found it essential to include the topic of
this volume into a Hand- book of Vegetation Science. lt was included
therefore in my first revised Iist of topics to be included in the
Handbook when I took over from Dr. Tüxen. It is a great pleasure for me
to see this volume appear. Having read through the many contributions to
this volume I can certainly congratu- late Drs. White and Beeftink for
their success in generating so much interest in this volume among their
colleagues. The cooperation on this volume is forme the first sign that
the new concept of the Handbook has been understood by the generation of
scientists which I have to address. The influence this volume will have
on the field ofplant population studies only time can teil. It appears
to me, however, that this volume will become a standard resource for
some future. Dr. White asked me to have this volume dedicated to Dr.
Rabotnov.