20 



The two opening chapters on potato murrain and the famine 

 in Ireland contain Httle not already familiar to the mature plant 

 pathologist. The young student might expect to find at the close 

 of these chapters something on the modern methods of the control 

 of the disease. We might also expect the author to take this oppor- 

 tunity to answer some of those who have been criticizing the 

 scientist because of the way his discoveries have been utilized in 

 the construction of the deadly weapons of modern warfare. He 

 could, in accord with Dr. Blakeslee's recent address as retiring 

 president of the A. A. A. S., have pointed out the great contribu- 

 tions for good made by scientists who have shown how, for exam- 

 ple, potato blight can be easily controlled so that famines in Ireland 

 are no longer necessary or probable. In later chapters on Bordeaux 

 mixture and "Xew Sprays for Old" methods are given for con- 

 trolling the blight. 



When one considers the author's sociological viewpoints he finds 

 an excuse for a good discussion of Phylloxera even though aphids 

 are not very closely related to the fungi ! This chapter on Phyl- 

 loxera would naturally be the last place one would look to find an 

 account of Craigie's discovery of the functioning of the spermatia 

 of wheat rust, which would naturally be included in the chapter 

 on the "Barberry and the Wheat." Craigie's work, however, is 

 also mentioned in the chapter "Towards Immunity" where the 

 origin of many of the new biologic races is properly attributed to 

 hybridization in the wheat rust. 



A chapter on degeneration and virus diseases is included, no 

 doubt because viruses as well as fungi cause disease. Here the 

 author has briefly yet effectively given us the latest information 

 on this type of disease. 



On the whole one cannot help enjoying a leisurely reading of 

 various chapters because the historical accounts of certain of our 

 most destructive plant diseases are enlivened with ideas on human 

 relations well worth pondering. 



B. O. Dodge 

 Xew York Botanical Garden 



