In compiling this Report, the fifth of the series, our aim has been to cover
the literature available to us between midJanuary 1971 and mid-January
1972. However, it will be recalled that last year it was necessary to go to
press without four of the chapters (General Methods, Plant Polysaccharides,
Microbial Polysaccharides, and Physicochemical Properties) that are
normally covered in Part I1 of these Reports,, Our disappointment in the
loss of continuity of the series has been mollified by the knowledge that the
present Report contains complete literature coverage of these areas for
both 1970 and 1971. This Herculean labour was unselfishly undertaken by
Dr. R. J. Sturgeon, who has joined us as a Reporter.