JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
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Typographirnl errors were noted in one oi t1.c ~ t r u c t u r formulas ~l under item 583 nnd in one under iwm Gli,Imt ~n grnrr 11 the book is free of emom and shows ever), sign of cmeful proof in^. Two points might be considered for future volumes. For consistency, and a t times for greater clarity, all the benzenoid rings of the structural formulas should be designated by the conventional Kekul6 cyclohextatriene structure; usage tends to reserve the simple hexagon for the cyclohexane system. Further, it is noted that the formst, particularly in the titles of earlier abstracts, involves a rather lavish use of page space. If the use of smaller type and the more efficient utiliastion of space could result in significant reduction in the price of the book, such a. change should be considered. "Synthetic Methods" has been accepted as a reliable and convenient source of information. The series should be available to all organic chemists concerned with problems of synthesis.
ELEMENTS OF PLANT PROTECTION
Louis L. Pyensoo, Entomdogist and Plant Pathologist at the Long Island Agricultural and Technical Institute. John Wiley 8 Sons, Inc., New York, 1951. x 538 pp. 226 figs. 5 0 tables. 14 X 21.5 om. $4.96.
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INA day when agriculture haa reached a remsrkable level of efficiency through the development of high-yielding, diseaseresistant crops, it is appalling to note that the annual losses frominsect and fungus pests in the United States alone amounts to two billion dollars. Weeds extract another one and one-half billion toll from our production potential. The insidious fact remains that the technique of the plant breeder may facilitate the selection of strains resistant to a disease known in the parental forms but at the same time susceptible to a malady heretofore unencountered in the variety in question. "When the stem rust-resistant Marquis variety of wheat replaced the older WALTER J. GENSLER varieties, scab became a major problem; and when the farmer turned to durum wheats, root rots and ergots became problems." Hence, there is a continuing need for more effective chemicals in pest control. PHYSIOLOGY OF THE FUNGI Furthermore, the use of insecticides, particularly the newer types, such as the chlorinated hydrocarbons or the organic Virgil Greene Lilly, Professor of Physidogy, West Virginia phosphates, creates problems involving toxicity to warm blooded University; Physiologist, West Virginia Agricultural Experiment animals or else the probable destruction of the natural predators Station, and Horace L. Barnett, Professor of Mycology, West of the harmful insects. For example, the thiophosphate known Virginia University; Mycologist. West Virginia Agricultural as parathion would be the outstanding insecticide today if i t Experiment Station. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York. were not for its high toxicity to mammals. DDT is very useful 1951. di 464 pp. 81 figs. 64 tables. 16 X 24 om. $7.50. as a general household, soil, and plant insecticide, but the inAs INTEREST in the physiology of the fungi continues to de- creased incidence of certain aphids and red spiders after its use velop we may expect (and hope for) more books like the present mav indicate the destruction of the natural ~redatorsof these one. Lilly and Barnett's book is an excellent text for a course insects. The employment of the variety of chemicals available ss weed in the physiology of fungi. Following an introductory section in which such topics as the killers involves, as would be expected, s careful consideration of aims, scope, history, and development of physiological mywlogy their specific action. In this condition, however, "a wholly are dealt with, there are comprehensive chapters on culture new concept of weed control has arisen since the striking effects media, growth, enzymes, essential metallic elements, and essen- on plants of the growth-regulating substance 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorotial nonmetallic elements other than carbon. These are succeeded phenaxyacetic acid) were announced in 1944." The value of by an extremely well presented and informative chapter on carbon this compound is derived from the fact that it is harmful to many sources and carbon utilization which is terminated by a bibliog- weeds hut harmless to some cultivated crops. Feeding exraphy of more than 60 papers. After a chapter on hydrogen-ion periments to date have indicated no harmful effects on man ooneentration there is an account of vitamins and growth or animals. From the above examples of the wide application of ehemifactors. This phase of fungus physiology, as might be expected from the research interests of the authors, is unusually well done cals in the control of plant pests it is evident that the intelligent and is terminated by a bibliography of 85 papers. There follow understanding of their specific action and effective employment short chapters on the use of fungi as test organisms. A section of demands a knowledge of the growth habits of the organism consome 37 pages deals with the important field of products of cerned-'. e., the life cycle of the host as well as that of the pest. In "Elements of Plant Protection" there will be found a confungus metabolism, and includes such topics as the use of fungi for food and the production of fats, vitamins, enzymes, alcohol, cise coverage of basic information concerning insect and fungus and organic acids. There are also accounts of the production diseases, destructive birds and rodents, and weeds. The latest information on control methods involving the use of chemicals of antibiotics, toxins, snd pigments by iungi. Factors influencing sporulation, spore discharge, dissemination, on either small or large-scale operations is summarized. The and spore germination are adequately considered in later chap- illustrations and diagrams, including the many line drawings ters, and the book terminates with chapters on parasitism and by Emily B. Steffens, are clear and easy to comprehend. Since resistance, and variation and inherit~noe. There is appended a the bookis written primarily for the use of students in agriculture and horticulture it has a list of questions a t the end of each set of twelve laboratory exercises far class use. The authors have succeeded well in producing a thoroughly chapter to guide the discussion and interpretation of practical readable textbook. Throughout, they have carefully stated the problems. Although the information in the text concerns problem at hand, the procedures involved, the particular topics crop plants far the mast part, the nonspecific use of the word under consideration, and have terminated each chapter with a plant in the title emphasizes the broad implications of the subject useful summary and bibliography. Aside from the rather poor matter. The book therefore will he an essential addition to reproduction of certain half-tone plates the book maintains s. the library of any home gardener or nature-lover, as tiell as to that of thespecislist. high standard of printing excellence throughout.
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GEORGE L. CHURCH
F. X. GPARROW B n o n ~U N ~ V E B ~ E T T P ~ o v ~ o m oRs m . nr 1 8 1 , ~ ~ ~
