CURRENT LITERATURE 
BOOK REVIEWS 
Diseases of economic plants 
e appearance of a revised edition of STEVENS and HaAtt’s Diseases of 
economic plants* will be welcomed by every one interested in plant pathology. 
Since the publication of the first edition in 1910, so much progress has been 
made in the rapidly expanding field of plant pathology that a revised edition 
of this work will be appreciated, especially by the busy teacher and investigator. 
The general plan of the book is similar to that of the first edition, although 
some changes have been made. The first fourteen pages are devoted to a 
brief summary of the history of plant pathology, the damage caused by plant 
diseases, and methods of prevention or cure. General diseases, such as damp- 
ing off, root rot, and soil diseases, are discussed in a special section of the book. 
The diseases of special crops are grouped under the crop plants upon which 
they occur, and a chapter on tropical diseases has been added. This is followed 
by a chapter on fungicides and spraying apparatus, and another on soil disin- 
fection. The bibliography contains 556 well chosen titles. Since the book 
is intended primarily as a text for college students, according to the author, 
many students, and certainly many teachers, will wish that the historical 
summary were more detailed. One might wish also that the damage caused 
by plant diseases had been discussed more fully. An account of the most 
serious epidemics probably would have been especially appreciated. The 
methods of disease prevention are grouped on the basis of more or less specific 
operations, such as seed treatment, the use of protective sprays and dusts, the 
selection of resistant varieties, and avoidance of practices which aid in the 
dissemination of the parasite. A brief account of quarantines possibly might 
have been desirable; and a more general grouping of control measures probably 
would seem preferable to some pathologists. The discussion of specific diseases 
is limited to essential facts. ‘The economic importance, signs, general etiology, 
and control measures are given for all important diseases. The presentation 
is as detailed as could be expected in a book of such wide scope, and the litera- 
ture citations by the student to sources from which further information 
may be obtain 
5 hook | is an excellent compendium of practical facts regarding plant 
decane and should be especially valuable as a reference. It is concisely 
written, well illustrated, and contains an extensive bibliography. It is to be 
hoped that the book will find its way into the hands not only of students, 
teachers, and investigators, but also of farm bureau advisers and the more 
* Stevens, F. L., and Hatt, J. G., Diseases of economic plants (revised edition 
by 2,1. STEVENS). ‘pn. 507. Macmillan Co. 1921. 
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