25 JUNE 1898, Page 14

The Fertility of the Land. By Isaac Phillips Roberts. (Mac-

millan and Co.)—This book is written by Mr. Roberts, who is Professor of Agriculture in Cornell University, and edited by Mr. L. H. Bailey, who professes General and Experimental Horticulture. " There is no science of agriculture," says the editor. But this does not hinder him from asserting that the farmer should be a philosopher. The fact is that he ought to have a portion of many sciences within his reach, chemistry and botany being, of course, chief among them. The subject of the book is too technical for us to deal with, but it may be com- mended to the notice of readers interested in this subject.