CURRENT LITERATURE 
BOOK REVIEWS 
Bacterial diseases of plants 
This volume by Sm1rTH,' as its name indicates, is intended to serve students 
as an introduction to that group of plant diseases caused by bacteria. An 
unusual proportion of the text is based upon the work of the author and those 
associated with him in his laboratories. The wealth of illustration, including 
reproductions of photographs and drawings, is particularly striking. There 
are 237 full-page illustrations, and smaller illustrations bring the total to 
about half of the book. ‘ 
first 64 pages are devoted to “‘A conspectus of bacterial diseases of 
plants,” including tables of plant families and genera in which bacterial 
diseases are known. Of particular interest are the summaries of agents of 
transmission and on plant reactions. ‘Methods of research” are discussed 
in about 50 pages. In most cases details of culture media and technique are 
omitted, reference being made to suitable sources of information 
rt III, the principal portion of the text, is devoted to a 
selected diseases.” Of the fourteen organisms discussed, eight were named by 
the author, and two others by workers in his laboratory, and all have been 
so that statements are in general authori- 
i discussed are those which have 
been most studied in the United States. For each disease there is given, first, 
a brief description of the pathology, plants affected, and distribution; second, a 
condensed description of the causal organism, including morphology, staining 
characters, culture, and physiology; and third, the special technique required 
in studying the relationships of parasite and host. In each instance this is 
followed by a laboratory guide, indicating the points to be studied and the 
special observations to be made. A brief index to the more important litera- 
ture is included. The directions are full of suggestions for experimentation 
and the development of original problems. 
The next roo pages are included in a section termed “ Miscellaneous.” 
Brief notes on additional diseases are followed by a chapter on suggestions of 
subjects for special study. The next three chapters are devoted to tumors 
and teratoses produced in plants in the absence of parasites. They are of 
great interest, but would seem to belong rather to a treatise on general plant 
pathology than in one devoted to bacterial diseases. 
‘Synopsis of 
« SurtH, Erwin F., An introduction to bacterial diseases of plants. pp. xxx-+688. 
figs. 453. Philadelphia: Saunders Co. 1920. 
401 
