840 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



erosion by wind and water. It follows that the most important things 

 necessary for maintaining the fertility of these soils are to prevent 

 surface erosion, especially by allowing stubble, &c., to remain, and to 

 increase the organic matter in the soil by the addition of farmyard 

 manure and so on. — F. J. C. 



Soils, Quantitative Relationships of Carbon, Phosphorus, 



and Nitrogen in Soils. By E. Stewart {U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Illinois, 

 Bull. 145, Apr. 1910). — This bulletin contains an excellent historical 

 summary, and details a number of analyses of soils from various depths, 

 showing that organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus compounds exist 

 in soils and subsoils of all kinds. A considerable bibliography concludes 

 the paper. — F. J. C. 



Sorg-hum, History and Distribution of. By C. E. Ball {U.S.A. 

 Dep. Agr., Bur. PI. Ind., Bull. 175, April 1910; 16 figs.).— The intro- 

 duction states that though Sorghums have been largely used as human 

 food for over twenty-five centuries, data concerning their geographical 

 distribution and the leading types which are found in different regions 

 are here presented for the first time. 



Contains a history, with illustrations from the principal writers, 

 of the botanical history of Sorghum from Pliny onwards. — E. A. B. 



Sparrows, English, How to Destroy. By N. Dearborn 



{U.S.A. Dep. Agr. Farm. Bull 383, Jan. 1910; figs.).— The Enghsh 

 house-sparrow, introduced into America about sixty years ago, has 

 made itself a pest. It has increased enormously, 'feeds voraciously, 

 is dirty, quarrelsome, harmful to crops, crowds out more pleasing and 

 more useful native birds, and replaces their tuneful notes with its 

 unmusical chatter. 



This bulletin is a catalogue of methods of exterminating it or 

 reducing its numbers. — M. L. H. 



Spartium juneeum. By G. D. {Garden, Aug. 20, 1910, p. 415). 

 — The yellow Spanish Broom is useful' for planting in poor soil; it 

 blooms from July to September. If pruning is neglected it is apt to 

 become ragged, and during the first year or two of its existence the 

 points of the branches should be kept well shortened. Afterwards it 

 is well to prune the bushes once a year, though clipping wuth shears 

 is not to be encouraged. The plant is easily raised from seed, but as 

 the young plants transplant badly they should be kept in pots till 

 wanted for their permanent quarters. — H. R. D. 



Spiraea discolor. By W. D. {Garden, Jan. 22, 1910, p. 40; 

 fig.). — This Spiraea, introduced a century ago, but long neglected, is 

 now becoming popular. It is a North American shrub growing 6 to 

 8 feet, or higher under favourable conditions, and forms a shapely 

 bush of graceful outline. It is distinct from other Spiraeas, having its 

 leaves simple, deeply serrated and pubescent beneath,^ and was called 



