As in the previous volumes of Trees and Shrubs of the USSR, the degree of detail devoted to individual tree and shrub species varies: a) Species that are of, or may potentially be of, significant importance to landscape planting and urban greening are described as comprehensively as possible; b) Species not yet utilized in landscape planting but recommended for introduction are described only in terms of their principal characteristics; c) Species that have been little studied and appear to have limited prospects for use in landscape planting are described very briefly. As in the preceding volumes, tree and shrub species are arranged according to the sequence of the Engler system of classification. This volume is intended for wide use among specialists engaged in the greening and landscaping of populated areas, especially in light of the decisions of the Nineteenth Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which attached great importance to the improvement of community infrastructure. The volume is particularly valuable because it includes a large group of arboreal fruit and berry plants. These species are of considerable significance in landscape development when used for street plantings, neighborhood landscaping, home gardens, small public gardens, parks, and avenues within populated areas. Many species are also suitable for extensive use in suburban green belts and shelterbelt afforestation on agricultural lands. In addition, the volume describes representative species of numerous plant families cultivated in the subtropical regions of the Soviet Union and primarily distributed throughout tropical and subtropical zones. Some of these plants are of substantial importance to the national economy and have already been cultivated on a large scale. Although this publication includes descriptions of tree fruit species and information concerning their cultivation techniques, it should not be regarded as a handbook on fruit growing or horticulture. Its principal purpose is dendrological, and it is intended to assist specialists working in the field of landscape planting and urban greening. The descriptions of the physical and mechanical properties of wood and its anatomical structure, which are distributed throughout the various sections of Volume III, were prepared by M. S. Yamlyan, Candidate of Biological Sciences, and reviewed by Professor A. A. Yatsenko-Khmelevsky, Doctor of Biological Sciences. Because these descriptions contain a considerable number of specialized technical terms, explanations of the terminology will be provided below by M. S. Yamlyan.