218 



REVIEW 



Annales du Service des Epiphyties, Edited by Marchal, P. and Foex, E., 

 Tome VI, pp. 1-365. Memoires et Rapports preseiites aii Comite 

 des Epipliyties en 1918. Ministere de I'agriculture, Paris, 1919. 



The above volume contains much useful information regarding in- 

 vestigations carried out in France on insect pests and fungoid diseases 

 of plants. 



A brief report on Phytopathology in France for the year 1918 intro- 

 duces the volume (pp. 1-33), and reports on the activities at the various 

 entomological and vegetable pathology laboratories in France occupy 

 the concluding pages. 



Of the papers on entomological investigations. Professor F. Picard, 

 Professor of Zoology at the National School of Agriculture at Montpellier, 

 gives an exhaustive study of the entomological fauna of the fig-tree, 

 pp. 34-174. The paper is divided into two sections, I, Special part; 

 II, General part. 



The first part deals with the more important insects which attack 

 the wood, the leaves and the fruit respectively. Description of the insects, 

 ample biological notes, their enemies and parasites are given. 



Only one species of Lepidoptera (Simaethis nemorana Hubn.) fre- 

 quents the fig tree in France, a fact which is discussed in Part II of the 

 paper. 



Part II consists of a general discussion on the relation of plants to 

 insect population. The views expressed are largely formed from ex- 

 tensive observations on certain insects associated with cultivated plants, 

 especially with regard to the fig tree and exotic plants in general. The 

 question of the introduction of pests into new countries and the reasons 

 for their subsequent wide distribution, are discussed. 



Certain species of plants are populated by many species of insects, 

 while others may only support one or two species. Chemotropic influence 

 of the odours of plants, probably is the most important factor concerned. 

 The significance of physical factors such as hght, temperature, humidity 

 etc. are discussed in relation to the insect population of plants. 



The factors which are at work in keeping down insect pests are 

 numerous and complex in their inter-relationship. Parasites, epidemic 

 diseases, birds, and chniatic conditions all play their part. 



