Preliminary to the inauguration of research work on atmospheric sampling for the determination of ragweed pollen concentrations, a cursory survey of the literature on pollens and hay fever was made. Even through this survey is far from complete it might serve as a source of information for those interested in this subject. Because of the similarity of sampling and counting procedures for the determination of air-borne pollens and bacteria, and in view of the trend toward additional research in bacterial air contamination, a number of the following references pertain largely to bacterial air sampling. Abstracts have been prepared of a number of the references cited. (Author Modified Abstract)