JUNE 6, 1884.] 
pathology ; that the study of diseases of the 
brain throws much light upon normal mental 
processes. In a future edition we hope to find 
a more thorough investigation of the facts of 
pathology. Dr. Calderwood has made a dis- 
tinct advance from the old position, which 
limited the study of psychology to the facts 
presented by self-consciousness. In this direc- 
tion there is room for farther advance. The 
candor of the author, his critical acumen, and 
his freedom from irritation in stating or ex- 
amining opposing views, fit him for the work 
he is doing in an eminent degree. His style 
is finished and attractive. ‘The book, with its 
numerous illustrations, is pleasant reading, 
and will doubtless reach a third edition. It 
will be of interest and of service to those 
who, from lack of familiarity with German, 
are unable to read the superior work of Wundt, 
Grundziige der physiologischen-psychologie. 
THE GOVERNMENT AGRICULTURAL 
REPORT. 
Report of the commissioner of agriculture for the year 
1883. Washington, Government printing-office, 
i3s3_" 496'p., 11 pl. 8°. 
THE present volume is the twenty-third, we 
believe, of a series eminently well qualified to 
excite the curiosity of a scientific inquirer. It 
must, in truth, be admitted that the volumes of 
this series are less peculiar, on the whole, than 
their immediate predecessors, the so-called 
agricultural portion of the old patent-office re- 
ports; but the new dispensation has been odd 
enough, and it will doubtless be freely com- 
mented upon by future historians on this ac- 
count. ‘Taking the volumes one with another, 
the investigator will find in them a considerable 
mass of ‘statistics’ at which he may well look 
askance; divers reports ‘of divisions’ or of 
specialists, of every conceivable grade of me- 
diocrity, illumined at rare intervals by glints of 
sense or strength; while occasionally he will 
come across papers of realexcellence. In ad- 
dition to the official lucubrations, there has 
generally been published a considerable bulk 
of twaddle, pure and simple, obtained ‘ by 
favor of representative farmers,’ and pub- 
lished, evidently, for the purpose of pleasing 
the writers. Such men are, in truth, repre- 
sentative specimens of the class which finds 
comfort and satisfaction on seeing its name in 
print. People of this sort have always hung 
like an incubus on the agricultural newspapers 
of the country, in spite of all the asphyxiative 
devices known to editors; but it is specially 
SCIENCE. 
689 
offensive to behold them emblazoned on the very 
escutcheon of the greatest nation on earth, — 
on the facet, namely, presented by one of the 
most conspicuous of the governmental estab- 
lishments. It is but mild reproof to say that 
the department of agriculture has, from the 
beginning, kept well behind and below the 
standards of science and knowledge actually 
existent in the country. With regard to the 
matter of statistics, it is gratifying as well as 
in some sort amusing, to be assured officially 
that they are now valuable. The commissioner 
says (p. 9), ‘‘ The division of statistics has 
never done better work than in the past year. 
It has advanced its standing for accuracy and 
breadth in this and in foreign countries. Jts 
aim is in direct contrast with the prevalent 
haste and superficiality of the day, towards 
completeness and fulness of statement, a true 
parallelism in comparison, and legitimacy in 
deduction,’’ —a sentiment so elevated that we 
are constrained to print it in italics. 
So long as men are men, there will doubt- 
less be found two opposing camps to debate 
the question of the barren fig-tree. There 
will be those to cry, ‘ How long, O Lord, how 
long?’ and to pray for means of radical de- 
struction ; while others of sanguine mood, to- 
gether with all those who find comfort and 
shelter in the shadow which the tree casts, will 
insist on the continuance of processes of ma- 
nuring, watering, grafting, caprificating, tin- 
kering, and cosseting, even to the end of time. 
Thanks to such fostering care, the department 
of agriculture continues to live its life; and it 
is but fair to say, that, for the year now in ques- 
tion, some of its twigs or branches do give evi- 
dence of a certain vigor and comeliness. The 
reports of the entomologists in particular, and 
of the veterinarians, are noteworthy and praise- 
worthy. Professor Riley’s report shows, as 
usual, the hand of a master in all its parts. 
Some of the experimental work relating to the 
destruction of insects will be found interesting 
by not a few general readers, more especially 
the results of trials of emulsions of petroleum 
used as insecticides. The discovery that pe- 
troleum can be applied in this way is manifestly 
one of very great practical importance for 
farmers, gardeners, and vine-dressers. Pro- 
fessor Packard’s report on the causes of de- 
struction of evergreen forests in northern New 
England and New York is full of interest and 
instruction. It is an excellent example of the 
manner in which technical scientific reports 
should be written. 
Dr. Salmon’s report on the work and plans 
of the veterinarians is indicative of scientific 
