igw.] Historical Monuments in Hertfordshire. 675 



In consequence of the spread of American Gooseberry Mildew dur- 

 ing the summer, the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries recommend 

 all purchasers of gooseberry bushes, from 

 Notice to Purchasers whatever source they are obtained, to 

 of Gooseberry Bushes, examine their purchases Very carefully on 

 delivery, to cleanse the plants thoroughly from 

 all earth, and to remove and burn the tips of the shoot before planting". 

 If any trace of disease is found the purchaser should communicate 

 with the Board, and supply full information as to the source from which 

 the consignments were obtained, in order that the matter may be 

 investigated. 



The first of a series of publications which will prove of great in- 

 terest to landowners has recently been published by the Royal Com- 

 mission on Historical Monuments in the 

 Historical Monuments fm ' m of a Re P ort and Description of the 

 in Hertfordshire Historical Monuments in the County of Hert- 

 fordshire.* 



This Royal Commission, which was appointed in 1908, and is pre- 

 sided over by Lord Burghclere, has for its object the preparation of 

 an Inventory of the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Construc- 

 tions connected with or illustrative of the contemporary culture, civilisa- 

 tion, and conditions of life of the people in England from the earliest 

 times to the year 1700. Hertfordshire was selected as the first of 

 the counties to be investigated, and the Commission is now engaged 

 on a similar work in the County of Buckingham. 



The Inventory of Hertfordshire, which is a well-illustrated work 

 of over 300 pages, contains an interesting introduction summarising 

 the history of the county, together with a concise account of each of 

 the ancient constructions, arranged by parishes. 



Excellent photographs are given of many of the most interesting 

 churches and houses, with sketch maps of the earthworks and similar 

 remains, and plans of some of the churches, indicating the different 

 periods of construction. 



The Commission states that the condition of the monuments of 

 Hertfordshire is, on the whole, good, and that the County Council 

 and the Urban District Councils are alive to the advantage of pre- 

 serving the ancient monuments in the country. The duties of the 

 Commission itself are limited to recording and describing the monu- 

 ments and specifying those which seem most worthy of preservation,, 

 but it has no power to take any steps for the protection of monuments 

 which are threatened with destruction. Cases, however, occur where 

 it is desirable to deal at once with imperilled monuments of historic 

 importance, and the Commission are of opinion that the time has 

 come when such cases should be dealt with by a Government Depart- 

 ment acting with the assistance of a permanent Advisory Board. 



* An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Hertfordshire. Price lis. 6d. 

 To be obtained from Messrs. Wyman & Sons, Fetter Lane, London, E.C. First 

 Interim Report of the Royal Commission : The Ancient Monuments of the County of 

 Hertford. [Cd. 5367, Price 4^.] 



