674 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and scale insects. There is also a chapter on a few common insects of 

 other orders. Part III. (which we think would have been better placed 

 before Part II.) gives a descriptive account of the larger orders of insects, 

 with short notices of remarkable forms. The fourth part deals with " the 

 destruction or mitigation of insect pests," and in it is given an account of 

 the steps taken to destroy the Gipsy moth in the State of Massachusetts, 

 among which are many suggestions that may be of use to fruit-growers in 

 this country. An account is also given of the devastation caused by the 

 " fluted scale insect " among the orange groves of California, and its 

 destruction by means of a ladybird introduced from Australia. This is 

 followed by a chapter on " Remedies for Injurious Insects : Washes and 

 Sprays." In commenting on arsenical preparations, which are usually 

 sold in a powder, it is not mentioned that they can be obtained in the form 

 of a paste, in which condition they are much safer to handle, as the powder 

 so easily blows about ; and, as these substances are extremely poisonous, it 

 is well to avoid any chance of inhaling any of the powder. In recom- 

 mending poisoned baits for the destruction of w 7 ire-worms, this may be 

 useful in gardens, but in fields where several acres are infested the cost of 

 the operation would be prohibitive. The author calls attention to the 

 necessity of clearing off the w T eeds from neglected corners, and the imme- 

 diate destruction of all rubbish, instead of making a compost-heap on 

 which all kinds of pests can breed. These precautions, though frequently 

 urged on cultivators, are only too often overlooked. The book- concludes 

 with a chapter on the "Value of Expert Knowledge," and an index. As 

 regards " expert knowledge," it is more likely to be obtained by mastering 

 the contents of this little w r ork than of any other we are acquainted with, 

 and we can confidently recommend it to all students of economic ento- 

 mology. 



"Wild Fruits of the Country." By F. E. Hulme, F.L.S., F.S.A., Sec. 

 (Hutchinson, London.) 12s. Qd. 



We entirely agree with the author that the fruits of autumn are in 

 their way fully as beautiful as are the flowers of summer. He expresses an 

 unquestionable truth when he says that " to the real lover of Nature the 

 appreciation of her works is all-embracing, excluding all idea of deprecia- 

 tion, exalting nothing at the expense of anything else." Few lovers of 

 " the Great Green Book," however, need such an apologia as an introduction 

 to so charming a book, so charmingly illustrated, as Mr. Hulme here pre- 

 sents us with. No one who has once seen a good bush of the wild Guelder 

 Rose in full berry by the brookside in Norfolk, or of the Spindle-wood in 

 the hedgerows on chalk lands in Kent, will ever question the glorious 

 beauty and surpassing grace of the wild fruits of our country. Mr. Hulme 

 has not, however, been content to give us the fruits only, but has added 

 flowers and leaves as well in almost every case to his beautiful and life- 

 like illustrations, and in the descriptions has dealt very fully with the 

 history of the plant and its habit, and the sort of places where one is likely 

 to come across it. 



" Wood : a Manual of the Natural History and Industrial Applications 



