Reviews of Books. 123 



it can be profitably cultivated in Britain and various other parts of the 

 civilized world. 



Another report, by Thomas Farrall, On tlie Polled Angus, or Aberdeen 

 Breed of Cattle, boiag purely an agricultural or stockbreeder's question, 

 scarcely comes within the scope of our remarks ; but, being a well got up 

 report by an enthusiastic admirer of that valuable meat-producing breed 

 of cattle, those who are interested in the subject will be well rewarded 

 for the trouble they may take in reading it. 



The Transactions concludes with short reports on several very interest- 

 ing and instructive trials of implements and machinery, selected by the 

 Society for testing during 1876, including Fisken's steam cultivating 

 machinery, which passed favourably its investigation and trials ; Eobey 

 and Co.'s threshing maciiine, which also gave good satisfaction ; Koldmoo's 

 weed eradicator, which appears to be a very clever invention for extracting 

 weeds in corn-fields, &c., without injury to the growing corn ; Barclay's 

 cultivator, a useful implement of comparatively light draught ; and potato 

 planters — six of these ingenious contrivances for saving labour were put 

 on trial, but none of them proved perfect at the work, although the Society 

 awarded a £10 prize to the best machine on the " Cup " principle, and a 

 similar prize to the best on the "Needle" principle, to mark the great 

 improvement made in such implements. A water-testing .npparatus, by 

 Davis and Co., London, was not considered of any merit; Murray's 

 threshing machine performed its work in a very satisfactory manner ; 

 and at the trial of " turnip raisers " four machines turned out for com- 

 petition and investigation, the best of was that invented or owned by 

 James Thom, Leden Urquhart, Strathmiglo, Fifeshire, which performed 

 its work in a manner far superior to any of the others. It pulls the 

 turnips, tops and tails them, and throws them to one side the same as a 

 potato-digger. 



Appendix A contains details of the Society's proceedings at board 

 meetings and at general meetings ; the premiums awarded by the Society in 

 1876-1877 ; and a statement of its financial affairs, which shows the Society 

 to be in a very flourishing condition, with nearly £63,000 to its credit. 

 Appendix B contains a list of the premiums offered in 1877; a general 

 notice of the institution and career of the Society ; its constitution and 

 management ; establishment, and committees for 1877 ; examinations in 

 agricultural education, and also in veterinary knowledge; forestry and 

 chemical education, for excellence in which the Society grants certificates 

 or diplomas ; reports on the science and practice of agriculture ; estate 

 improvements ; machinery, and forestry. Appendix C contains a list of 

 the members of the Society, and closes a volume of scientific and practical 

 knowledge of much interest to all concerned in the management and 

 improvement of the rural affairs of the country. 



The Indian Forester. Edited by W. Schlich, Ph.D., Conservator of 



Forests, Bengal. Central Press Co., Calcutta. 

 The January number. No. 3., "Vol. II., of this quarterly magazine, 

 contains a variety of articles of mucTi interest to the forest officials of our 



