When the European countries discontinued financial support of Barley Genetics Newsletter in 1985, it appeared that publication of this periodical would be discontinued. The editors decided to attempt to publish Volume 15 and 16 on an individual subscription basis, charging $5.00 per issue to subscribers. We had determined that this price would cover costs of publication and mailing. Canadians and United States recipients of the newsletter had been charged this fee for many years prior to 1985. Unfortunately, when we billed recipients for the two-year cost of $10.00, over 200 failed to pay for the publication. Thus, we had insufficient funds to publish both Volumes 15 and 16, resulted in delayed publication of these Volumes. Eventually, Volume 16 was published and distributed with generous offer of part of cost by the American Malting Barley Association and the funds from the Barley Genetic Stock Center. The American Malting Barley Association has further generously offered to print and distribute Volume 17 and subsequent issues of BGN and so this issue is being sent to workers without charge. We are indebted to AMBA for this service.

Editors