1922.] The Ministry's Publications in 1921 



conditions can only be countered by better methods. If this 

 assumption is correct, the increased Journal sales are a tribute 

 to the practical common sense of the farmer, for the Journal, 

 as an official publication, endeavours to supply useful informa- 

 tion of direct and practical value. The sales for December last 

 exceeded 10,000, or about double those of pre-war days. 



Miscellaneous Publications.— A range of subjects almost as 

 wide as that of the Journal has been covered by the Ministry's 

 Miscellaneous Publications during the last year. A valuable 

 addition to the records of Plant Pests in this country was made 

 by the " Report on the Occurrence of Insect and Fungus Pests 

 on Plants in England and Wales for the year 1919." which, 

 though of most interest, perhaps, to the scientist and student, 

 has yet had a considerable sale. This series of reports is being 

 continued, and the report for the years 1920 and 1921 will be 

 issued shortly. 



The value to trade of the practical application of mycology is, 

 perhaps, more clearly shown in the case of the " Trials of 

 Varieties of Potatoes Immune to Wart Disease, 1920," from 

 which trials some commercially sound varieties of potatoes have 

 emerged with added lustre. Much useful information on 

 the growing of clover and grasses in this country is to be found 

 in " A Survey of the Principal Seed -Growing Counties." The 

 rapid progress made by the Milk Recording Scheme of the 

 Ministry is evidenced by the steady demand for Volume 4 of 

 the Register of Dairy Cows. 



The three most popular volumes issued by the Ministry during 

 the year have undoubtedly been: — "Rations for Livestock." 

 by Professor T. B. Wood; " Manuring of Pastures for Meat and 

 Milk," by Professor W. Somerville ; and the "Handbook of 

 British Breeds of Livestock." 



Of these three volumes some 1.200 copies were sold in 

 November alone, and all three have required three editions 

 during the last 18 months. 



Volumes in preparation include " Hedge and Stump Clearing 

 Devices. Report on a Test conducted at Long Ashton, Hamp- 

 shire," which will give the public authoritative results obtained 

 at the trials of every method of extracting tree stumps in common 

 use in this country. 



Of particular value to farmers, schools and colleges — indeed, 

 to private gardeners also — will be a new publication on " Bene- 

 ficial Insects," which will include two pages of coloured 

 illustrations, beautifully prepared, scientifically accurate and 

 finely reproduced (in the press). 



