404 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
" Chemical Fertilizers and Parasiticides." By S. Hoare Collins. Demy 8vo. 
xii + 273 pp., 9 figs. (Bailli^re, Tindall & Cox, London, 1920.) 10s. 6d. net. 
This volume, which appears in the series on Industrial Chemistry edited by 
Dr. Rideal, is a companion to the volume by the same author on " Plant 
Products" already noticed in this Journal (Vol. XLIV. p. 133). In the former 
volume the author treated of chemical fertilizers from the point of view of crop 
increment, whereas in that now under notice they are dealt with primarily 
with reference to their sources and modes of manufacture. 
An admirably readable and complete account of the subject is given, together 
with plentiful references to the literature. Altogether the volume should prove 
of great value to the technical fertilizer chemist and to the scientific agri- or 
horti culturist ; it successfully fills what has long been a noticeable gap in the 
literature of industrial chemistry. 
" Lawns." By Messrs. Sutton & Sons. Ed. 13. 8vo. 79 pp. (Sutton, 
Reading.) 2s. 6d. net. 
Perhaps no part of the garden gives more trouble than the lawn, and this 
often because it has been started on wrong lines and attended to without due 
consideration of its needs. If the clear directions given in this little book are 
followed exactly, those who have the care of lawns for any purpose whatever 
will be able to avoid much of the worry and disappointment that waylay their 
steps at present. We can heartily commend it. 
" Horticulture : a Textbook for High Schools and Normals." By K. C. 
Davis. 8vo, vii + 416 pp. (Lippincott, London.) 85. 6d. net. 
This volume is a course of instruction in horticulture for teachers in training 
and for scholars in high schools and is intended to be a part of the ordinary 
school or training college course, i.e. part of the general education. It is written 
for American scholars and teachers, and is thus not entirely suited for use as a 
textbook on this side of the Atlantic. The book is nevertheless one to which 
we would like to draw attention, because of its value in suggestion to teachers 
here in the framing of courses of instruction. Methods of instruction and types 
of exercises which scholars may reasonably be expected to perform will find many 
useful illustrations in this complete and able book. 
" Injurious Insects and Useful Birds." By F. L. Washburn, M.A. 8vo. 
xviii + 453 pp. (J. P. Lippincott, London.) 7s. 6d. 
This book is intended for the use of agricultural and horticultural students, 
farmers, and fruit-growers in America. It appears to be of little practical 
use in this country, as comparatively few of our pests are included. 
The first six chapters are devoted to the structure of insects, orders, collect- 
ing, insecticides, spraying, .fumigation, and'generarremedies. 
In chapters (7 to 18 are given concise life-histories and remedies of pests of 
orchards, vegetables, field crops, greenhouses, shade trees, man and household, 
stock and poultry, and mill. Insect friends and birds of economic importance 
are described, the latter having, besides the usual illustrations, three splendidly 
coloured plates of birds' heads. The final chapter gives the four-footed pests 
of farms. 
There are a few mistakes, most of them mis-spelling of scientific names, 
Xyleborus dispar is labelled E. ribis on p. 1 1 1 ; the Bean Beetle, Bruchus, is incor- 
rectly called a Weevil on p. 244, &c. The 414 illustrations are sketches and 
photographs, and are particularly clear. 
"Weeds of Farm Land." By W. E. Brenchley, D.Sc. 8vo. xx. 239 pp. 
(Longmans, Green, London, 1920.) 12s. 6d. net. 
Miss Brenchley has gathered together a vast amount of information concerning 
the weeds of British fields, much of it from her own observation, much also 
from the published experience of others. It is surprising, however, to find 
some pernicious weeds of gardens completely ignored, such as the bishop's 
weed {Aegopodium Podagraria) and the bitter cresses {Cardamine hirsuta and 
C. flexuosa). Draba verna, though it does no harm, is deserving of passing 
mention as a light-land weed. Equally curious is the omission of Lepidium 
Draba, one of the worst immigrants of recent years, and the beautiful Melampyrum 
arvense, which is rare, but locally abundant in Essex as a cornfield weed. The 
only other thing we have to complain of is some lack of editing apparent in 
discrepant spelling. 
The information given is very full, and the numerous line drawings which 
illustrate the book are excellent. 
