Reading a new work recently in which horticultural knowledge is professedly brought down to the present time, we find " pear blight" referred to in precisely the same language and terms as would have been in order over a quarter of a century ago. A dozen different diseases are all confounded as " pear blight," and it is quite evident that the great trouble ** Fire Blight " was not at all understood by the author. The idea that fire blight is contagious or even infectious, is surely thoroughly exploded; and the advice to drop all other important work at once, and go to work at any cost to cut away and burn the '* infected " tops, seems very strange at this late date.

We really believe that a number of our good friends among the professors of horticulture in schools and colleges, to judge by some of their professional work, are a long way behind the age, and a good course of reading through the horticultural publications of the past twenty-five years, before putting their fancied discoveries into print, would be of great service to them.

A Rahway, New Jersey, correspondent says: "Pear blight is fearful this summer - Bartlett, Seckel, DAnjou, heretofore free, are now suffering".

[This is particularly interesting as the Seckel is usually found less susceptible to the fungus influence than others. - Ed. G. M].