Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-10-11
NIB. COOKIES INSECT BOOK.

Matthew Cooke, late Chief Executive
horticultural Officer Of California, has just
issued from the press of q. S. Croker & Co.,
of this city, his long expected work on " In
furious Insects of the Orchard, Vineyard,
Field, Garden, Conservatory. Storehouse,
Domestic Animals, ETC." It is probably the
most practical work Of its kind which has
ever been given to the public. 1t is the re-
suit of the long study and broad experience
of practical mechanic, who was driven, in
order to protect his business, to find remedies
for insects injurious to fruit, tree and vine.
This necessity led him to go deep into the
natural history of insects. and as a conse-
quence he became an accomplished entomol-
ogist, and by series of experiments extend.
ing over a period of several years, and an
area equal to the extent of the coast, he be-
came versed in economic entomology, and by
Publishing his discoveries through the press
contributed greatly to the benefit of fruit and
vine-growers in this State. 1t Is not saying
too much to credit to Mr.. Cooke the initial
movement made, and much, if not most, of
the subsequent agitation, which resulted in
the active and successful exertions in this
State to stay the ravages Of the pests which
threaten to destroy the fruit interests
Of the State. The volume at hand
is very neat specimen OF the
printers and binders art, Frank Foster
& Co. doing the work last mentioned-in
act, no better book work OF this class Is done
n any city. The book is not one that can be
here noticed critically. Suffice it to say that
it is most elaborately illustrated. The pros
pectus promised 675 wood engrsvings, but
we find that performance exceeds promise,
and that the book contains $50 engravings,
Where these are not of the actual size of TIE
subject treated, perpendicular lines next the
cut indicate the real size of the insect. The
book promised to consist Of $50 pages, but it
really contains 472 pages. 1t was promised
that we should be treated TO an eighteen
psge supplement of illustrations Of classified
insects, that the fruit-growers may compare
insects with the Illustrations for the purposes
of Identification, but Mr.. Cooke has given Us
twenty-five pages of this character. One of
the most useful details of the work is the
method of indexing the names of insects. To
adapt the work to popular use perfectly, two
indices have been added to the book, one Civ
ing the scientific name Of insects, with the
name in common use following, and
the other giving the common name
first and the scientific term secondly. This
is of much value to the layman. The Illus
trstions are very handsomely cut, and it is
evident to the most Impractical eye that es-
peeial care has been taken to present as
nearly exact engrsvings of the insects as is
possible to be done with the graver. The
text of the book is clear, simple, easily under.
stood and particularly adapted to aid one IN
acquiring a wide degree of knowledge in
economic entomology and the natural history
of Insect pests. l. would seem that the book
must be indispensable to the fruit and vine
grower and to all engaged in fruit shipping
packing or Gaming. To vineyArdists. farmers
and berry.gFOwers, too, it is of equal value.
What gives this work especial interest is its
treatment of many irs cts that are new 10
entomology, comparatively, and that are es-
pecislly prolific and destructive in California.
For the ravages of all the injurious insects
remedies are given, and whenever an insect is
treated of the remedies are indicated by num-
Der, they being grouped accordingly in the
latter part Of the book. Nowhere in the
work is there any tedious detail, any pro-
lixity or ambiguity, but terseness of text
-lr mana