140 
(2) The authors describe the many methods of 
taking spirit-photographs, enumerate the devices of 
mediums for deceiving the public, and, finally, state 
why they decline to accept the phenomena as 
genuine. ‘Of all spiritualistic phenomena,” says Mr. 
Smith, “‘spirit-photographs are the most obviously 
fraudulent.” 
The general argument of believers in spirit-photo- 
graphy is as follows: The ether waves that affect the 
eye (light) constitute but a small proportion of the 
complete wave-scale. The photographic plate is 
sensitive to infra-red and ultra-violet waves, and to 
X-rays, to all of which the retina is indifferent. Why, 
therefore, should not the photographic plate respond 
to “spirit”? emanations? The reasoning, while not 
altogether unsound, calls to mind the advice in the 
cookery book in the recipe for hare soup—first catch 
your hare ! 
The type of spirit-photograph with which this work 
principally deals is, in the jargon of the cult, an “‘ extra.” 
A bereaved individual gives the spirit-photographer 
(medium) a description or a portrait of the departed 
one from whom he wants a sign. After payment of 
fees he sits for his portrait, which is duly presented 
with an extra figure thereon that the victim imagines 
to represent his lost one. Spiritualists claim that 
hundreds of “extras” have thus been recognised, 
which only shows how much the psychology of decep- 
tion accentuates the truism—the wish is father to the 
thought. The spirit-photographer Buguet was eventu- 
ally detected and sentenced to twelve months’ im- 
prisonment and a heavy fine; yet, despite his con- 
fession of guilt and his description of how he had 
faked the “ spirits ” on his photographs, witness after 
witness came forward and swore to having recognised 
the “ extras.” 
Mr. Patrick, in a careful analysis of “ Fairy Photo- 
graphs,’ recently published by Sir A. Conan Doyle, 
directs attention to the many suspicious points demand- 
ing further explanation, and he does not hesitate to 
label the fairies as “ fakes.” 
If only those who desire to receive communications 
from the unseen would first read this book one of the 
most pernicious forms of parasitism extant would 
disappear. 
(3) Mr. Price’s remarks are significant, as he is a mem- 
ber of the Society for Psychical Research—a society 
not notoriously addicted to hypercriticism of occult 
phenomena. To him is due the credit of exposing 
Mr. Hope of Crewe, the last and most elusive of the 
three leading British spirit-photographers. Vearn- 
combe had been detected substituting plates. Mrs. 
Deane, a member of, and strongly recommended by, 
the “ British College of Psychic Science,’’ has also been 
NO. 2779, VOL. I11] 
NATURE 

[FEBRUARY 3, 1923 
proved to have tampered with plates. Remained only 
Mr. Hope and his assistant Mrs. Buxton. To him 
comes Mr. Price craving a “ spirit éxtra,” and armed 
with a set of four plates secretly marked by X-rays" 
with a stencil design in such way that, after develop- 
ment, the whole set of plates would show the complete 
design, any lacune in the latter proving substitution. 
As a result, Mr. Hope is found “ guilty of deliberately 
substituting his own plates for those of a sitter.” 
The question which the reader will ask after perusal — 
of these three works is not—Why are there so many — 
deceivers ? but Why are there so many dupes ? Money ~ 
—whether fees for “extras” and “ psychographs ” 
or substantial royalties for books—may explain the 
former, but wherefore the victims? The secret, we 
opine, lies in a defect of education. The young are 
taught to think, but not how to think. It is of minor 
import whether the conclusions in which thoughts 
terminate are or are not in accordance with fact. 
What is of vital importance is the character of the 
mental processes. It is wrong thinking rather than 
wrong thoughts that so often mars the individual, 
undermines society, and imperils the State. Czircwm- 
spice! So long as the young growing child does not — 
learn how to think, there will inevitably be an undue ~ 
proportion of grown-ups whose pitiful logic consists 
in drawing false conclusions from unsound premises, 
and to whom error appears as truth provided it be 
shouted ppniently loudly and frequently. 
C. MarsH BEADNELL. 








A Great American Agricultural Cyclopedia. 
(1) Cyclopedia of Farm Crops: A Popular Survey of 
Crops and Crop-making Methods in the United States 
and Canada. Edited by L. H. Bailey. Pp. xvit+ 
699+25 plates. (New York: The Macmillan Co. ; 
London: Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1922.) 25s. esa 
(2) Cyclopedia of Farm Aaim ie Edited by LH 
Bailey. Pp. xvi+708+25 plates. (New York : 
The Macmillan Co.; London: Macmillan and Co., 
Ltd., 1922.) 25s. net. 
R. L. H. BAILEY has edited more agricultural 
books than any other man living, but he can 
never have excelled the two volumes that constitute 
this Cyclopedia. One volume deals with crops: the 
other with animals. Of agricultural crops there are 
in the United States between one and two hundred, 
quite apart of course from the innumerable plants 
coming within the province of the horticulturist. In 
these volumes a generous view is taken, and room is. 
found for medicinal plants and plants yielding fibre, 
paper, oil, dyes, etc., which would not usually be 
included in an agricultural list. The animals are less 
