Recent Aijrieultural Puhlications. 
403 
parasitism, whether lay I’eaders or professional, will therefore 
welcome the appearance of this English edition. It adds one more 
to the many obligations under which Dr. Fleming has placed 
students, practitioners, and general readers, who are already indebted 
to him for his well-known works on “Veterinary Obstetrics,” 
“Operative Veterinai’y Surgery,” “Animal Plagues,” “Roaring in 
Horses,” and other subjects, besides his invaluable translation of 
Chauveau’s “Comparative Anatomy of the Domesticated Animals.” 
AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY IN FRANCE.' 
On a first glance at this work the reader is surprised to find that, 
although it is issued under the comprehensive title of “ A Treatise 
on Agricultural Chemistry,” it yet contains no sections dealing with 
animal chemistry, or with the ever- widening subject of the chemistry 
of the dairy. The author, in his preface, does not offer any expla- 
nation of this circumstance, but it is apparent that he regards 
agricultural chemistry as embracing the chemistry of plants, soils, 
and manures. As is the case with so many French treatises, the 
value of this volume, great as it undoubtedly is, suffers from the 
omission of an alphabetical index. The absence of this is only 
partly compensated for by a full synopsis of contents, which extends 
over upwards of twenty pages. 
M. Deh(irain’s name has long been favourably known in this 
countiy as that of one of the leaders of agricultural science in 
France. His experience as Professor of V egetable Physiology in the 
Museum of Natural History, and as Professor of Agricultural Che 
mistry in the School of Agriculture at Grignon, has endowed him with 
special qualifications for the production of a work such as that under 
notice. As illustrative of the manner in which they do these 
things in France, it is likely to prove interesting and suggestive to 
English readers, whether farmers or pupils, to present in a condensed 
form the leading features of M. Deherain’s synopsis, and thus to 
afford a view of the subject of Agricultural Ciikmistry as taught 
in a country where, for well-nigh a century, it has never lacked 
ardent students. 
The work is made up of three parts, dealing respectively with 
(I.) The Growth of Plants, (II.) Soils, and (III.) Manures and 
Manuring. 
Part I. — The Growth of Plants. 
1. Germination . — The selection of seed and its treatment before 
sowing. The conditions of germination as determined by moisture, 
air, temperature, light, and electricity. Changes in the air which is 
in contact with germinating seeds. Relation between the carbonic 
acid gas evolved and the atmospheric oxygen absorbed. Chemical 
* Traite de Chimie Agricole. Par P. P. DeheraiN; Pages xi -t- 901, with 64 
illustrations. Paris, G. Masson, 1892. 
