272 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



That the disease is of a serious enough nature to justify careful tield 

 investigations to determine, first, if possible, the exact cause, and then 

 a cure, seems certain. If due to unfavorable soil conditions we should 

 be able to determine just what those conditions are and remedy them. 

 Because of these facts the fruit growers who are so vitally interested 

 will welcome the news that the Department of Agriculture is going to 

 place a man in the field to make preliminary investigations, which no 

 doubt will lead to carefully planned field projects later, and eventually 

 to a solution of this baffling problem. — G. P. W. 



Citrus culture in New South Wales.— Citi-us Culture, or Farmers' 

 Bulletin No. i)(), Department of Agriculture, Sydney, New South Wales, 

 is a pamphlet of ninety-six pages, generously embellished by excellent 

 illustrations. That it "is by an able author is evinced in the fact that 

 the Washington Navel heads the list of oranges and the Valencia Late 

 is described as one of the best grown. Pruning is ably discussed. 

 Methods practiced in Europe, especially in Italy, are described. The 

 author shows his wide knowledge by frequent references to cultural 

 methods in America. The mention of many pests, insect and fungoid, 

 not yet in California, makes us more than ever grateful that our 

 incomparable quarantine system was perfected at so early a date. — 

 A. J. C. 



Review of "Key to the Famihes of North American Insects. "—This 

 volume of 144 pages, with 44 pages of excellent drawings by Professors 

 C. T. Brues of Harvard University and A. L. Melander of the State 

 College of Washington, will come as a godsend to teachers of entomology 

 in our colleges and high schools. Many of our farmers are earnest stu- 

 dents of insects, and the county horticultural commissioners are alive 

 to progress along all lines connected with horticulture, and they will 

 give this volume a glad welcome. 



The treatise consists of a series of artificial keys so arranged that 

 any real student can by their use identify any insect so far as order, 

 suij-order and family and frequently to genus and rarely to species. 

 These keys also give reliable information as to up-to-date classification. 

 The value of the book is much enhanced by the admirable illustrations, 

 many of which are original. These are of special interest to the anatomist 

 as also to the student of systematic entomology. The names of the authors 

 are enough to guarantee accuracy and reliability. The book is published 

 by the authors at Boston. Massachusetts, and at Pullman, Wash- 

 ington. — A. J. C. 



Decisions of the attorney general relating to the holding of examina- 

 tions for the position of county horticultural commissioner. — The fol- 

 lowing decisions by Hon. II. S. Webb, Attorney General for (Jalifornia, 

 will interest our readers: 



"The Board of Supervisors of San Diego County must fill the vacancy, 

 which will be created on December 81, 1912, in the office of County 

 Horticultural Comniissit)iier by reason of the resignation on that date 

 of the present Commissioner, by selection from the list of eligibles here- 

 tofore certified to the Board of Supervisors by the State Board of Hor- 

 ticultural FiXamincrs, upon which list there remain the names of two 

 ])ei'sons still eligible and available.'' 



