SOME NEW BOOKS. 



PATHOLOGY OF PLANTS. 



A Text-Book of Plant Diseases caused by Cryptogamic Parasites. By 

 George Massee, F.L.S., Principal Assistant (Cryptogams), Royal 

 Herbarium, Kew. Crown 8vo, pp. xii. + 460. London : Duckworth 

 and Co., 1899. Price 5s. 



The announcement of a " Text-book of Plant Diseases caused by Crypto- 

 gamic Parasites," written by Mr. George Massee of the Kew Herbarium, natur- 

 ally raised anticipations that the book would be distinctly better than any 

 existing English work on the subject. The book now before us, on the whole, 

 justifies the expectation, and is a welcome addition. The author's stated object 

 is to give the inquiring grower of plants information on diseases caused by 

 fungi and allied organisms. The introductory fifty pages give a general 

 summary on the principles of preventive treatment, and the preparation and 

 application of remedies. The greater part of the book (pp. 53—349) is occupied 

 by short descriptions of the more important diseases. These descriptions are 

 brief, yet clear, and free from unnecessary detail ; they are well illustrated with 

 figures mostly original, and the means of prevention are given in each case. 

 The accuracy of this part of the work is guaranteed by Mr. Massee's long 

 experience. The arrangement of the descriptions in the order of the fungi 

 causing them is perhaps that least convenient to practical growers. The diseases 

 described are selected — in a book of 450 pages this is essential — but the 

 method of selection is vague. Only cultivated plants are considered, yet one 

 sees no mention of several familiar British garden diseases, e.g. the smut and 

 the rust on violets. Such omissions, and the complete neglect of the diseases of 

 wild plants, many of which may easily attack cultivated forms, render the 

 ambitious title of " Text-book " misleading. The inclusion of lengthy descrip- 

 tions of diseases of exotic plants {e.g. tea and coffee) seems out of place in so 

 small a book ; it is doubtful wdiether the description of a few diseases will 

 greatly assist growers in our colonies, while it introduces a confusion as to 

 whether the disease under consideration is important in Britain, especially since 

 this is not always clearly stated. On p. 349 the reader will find himself 

 suddenly introduced into a maze of 100 pages of terminology peculiar to a 

 fungus-fiora. Reference to the " Contents " explains that these are " scientific 

 descriptions of the fungi enumerated as causing diseases." Are these intelligible 

 to many growers of plants 1 Are they, considering their limited number, of 

 much use to the scientific worker? We venture to believe that an extension of 

 the earlier parts of the book, and the omission of this portion, would have made 

 it look more appetising to the practical man. Such defects can, however, be 

 remedied, as also may some minor faults in typing and reproduction of drawings. 

 The book is the work of the best investigator on the subject in Britain, it 

 contains much valuable information in a readable form, its price is moderate ; 

 hence it is an indispensable addition to the library of the plant-grower who 

 would learn as much about his subject as he can. W. G. S. (Leeds). 



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