REVIEWS 147 



Leaf diseases are regarded as considerably less harmful than is the case 

 in other conifers because of the deciduous nature of the larch. 



The illustrations are numerous and excellent, and the book is written 

 in a clear and interesting manner, but the writer shows a tendency to make 

 too facile interpretations. jg ^ Cutting. 



Peach-Growing. By H. P. Gould, Pomologist in Charge of Fruit Investi- 

 gations, Bureau of Plant Industry, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

 (Rural Science Series.) [Pp. xxi + 426.] (New York: The Mac- 

 millan Company, 19 18. Price $2.00 net.) 



It will come as a surprise to many to learn that the peach is the most im- 

 portant of the stone fruits cultivated in the United States, far surpassing 

 in its annual yield the plum and cherry, which are the next in order of im- 

 portance. Thus in 1909 the value of the peach crop was nearly $29,000,000, 

 while the plum and prune crop for the same year was worth little more 

 than one-third of this, and the cherry crop only about one-quarter. A large 

 proportion of the peach crop is preserved by drying and canning, and it 

 is in either the dried or canned condition that most of the American peaches 

 that reach this country are brought here. 



The works in the Rural Science Series usually reach a high standard, 

 but this work appears particularly well done. After an introductory chapter 

 dealing with the history of the peach and its introduction into America, 

 the extent of the peach industry throughout the world is dealt with. In 

 the third chapter are considered the various factors, environmental and 

 economic, which determine the location of peach orchards, and in the next 

 seven chapters the aspects of peach growing which are more particularly 

 horticultural are discussed in considerable detail. The topics dealt with 

 include propagation, planting, fertility of the soil, tillage, pruning, and the 

 interplanting of crop plants between the fruit trees. A later chapter deals 

 with thinning the fruit. 



The chapter concerned with the control of insect and plant pests is a 

 long oije, for the peach is attacked by a large number of both animal and 

 plant parasites. Thus the author describes nineteen peach insects and the 

 same number of diseases caused by fungi and bacteria. After a considera- 

 tion of irrigation, adverse temperatures, the cost of growing peaches and 

 peach varieties, the book concludes with two chapters dealing respectively 

 with picking and packing the fruit and with transportation, storage and 

 marketing. 



From what has been said it will be clear that the ground has been well 

 covered, and the book presents the principles and methods of peach-growing 

 both comprehensively and successfully. Y/. S. 



Manual oJ American Grape-Growing. By U. P. Hedrik, Horticulturist of 



the New York Agricultural Experiment Station. (The Rural Manuals. ) 

 [Pp. xiii -f 458.] (New York : The Macmillan Company, 1919. 

 Price $2.50 net.) 

 The growing of grapes forms now a very important industry in North 

 America, and in some States large tracts of country are occupied by vine- 

 yards. As the title indicates, this work is particularly designed for readers 

 in America, where the conditions of grape culture are in general very dif- 

 ferent from those which obtain in this country. The varieties cultivated 

 in North America are for the most part derived from native American 

 species of grape, and are grown in vineyards out of doors. The cultivation 

 of the European grape under glass is, however, discussed, and the chapters 



