BOOK-NOTKS, NEWS, ETC. 151 



Mr. Pierce has proved that infection from this source is 

 comparatively trifiing, that each season's attack is due to direct 

 infection of the young leaves from spores that have wintered on twig 

 or bud, and that germinate in spring on the newly formed leaves. 

 He found that these spores could be killed and the disease effectually 

 checked by spraying the trees with some fungicide about three weeks 

 before the buds opened. The value of spraying the dormant trees 

 had been already proved by growers in California ; they had been 

 using various kinds of insecticide on their fruit trees to destroy the 

 San Jose scale during the winter, and they found that the peach 

 trees so treated were comparatively free from leaf-curl. Spraying 

 the trees after the leaves had developed and the fungus had taken 

 hold is found to be very ineffective in curing the disease. Some of 

 the most striking results were obtained on trees known to be liable 

 to the disease, of which the half only was sprayed, the other half 

 being protected from the spray by a large canvas stretched through 

 the tree. On the branches sprayed the leaves grew in a healthy and 

 luxuriant manner, and the yield of fruit was large. On one such 

 tree 718 peaches weighing 284'8 pounds ripened ; on the unsprayed 

 portion 92 per cent, of the leaves dropped off the tree, and only 

 40 peaches weighing 14-3 pounds came to maturity. The volume 

 is profusely illustrated by figures and by thirty beautiful plates from 

 photographs of trees sprayed and non-sprayed, and of healthy and 

 diseased branches and leaves. — A. L. S. 



The second part of the Australian portion of the Illustrations of 

 the Botany of Cook's Voyaifes has been passed for press, and will be 

 issued almost immediately by the Trustees of the British Museum. 

 The illustrations are brought down to the end of Gamopetalae ; a 

 third part will complete the work. The Trustees have also ready 

 for publication the concluding portion, dealing with the Cryptogams, 

 of the Welwitsch Catalogue. 



The most recent part of the Transactions of the Linnean Society 

 (dated January last) is devoted to an account of botanical collections 

 made by Messrs. F. V. McConnell and J. J. Quelch at Mount 

 Roraima, British Guiana. Mr. N. E. Brown has undertaken the 

 phanerogams, except the Orchidace* for which Mr. Rolfe is 

 responsible; the ferns and their allies are by Mr. C. H. Wright; 

 the mosses by Dr. Brotherus ; the hepatics by Dr. IStephani ; and 

 the fungi by Mr. Massee. There are two new genera — Quelchia, a 

 Composite allied to Moquinia, and Connellia, the latter based upon two 

 species described by Dr. Mez under the one name of Pmja Augusta : 

 these and other interesting novelties are illustrated by fourteen 

 excellent plates. 



The first issue of " the Victoria History of the Counties of 

 England" — a work of imposing appearance — is devoted to Hamp- 

 shire. The natural history of each county is to be a feature of the 

 series, and the editor has been fortunate in securing for this first 

 instalment the services of Mr. Frederick Townsend, who contributes 



