New Books.

The State: the Rudiments of New Zealand Sociology. For the use of beginners. By James H. Pope, Inspector of Native Schools. Wellington: G. Didsbury, Government Printer.

An Account of the Insects Noxious to Agriculture and Plants in New Zealand. The Scale Insects (Coccididæ.) By W. M. Maskell, F.R.M.S., Registrar of the University of New Zealand. Wellington: G. Didsbury, Government Printer.

From the preface to Mr Pope's book we gather that it took its present shape by a simple process of evolution. The first design was a small treatise intended to give young Maoris clear ideas of the institutions existing around them. Such subjects as rent and value, it was soon found, were scarcely susceptible of such simple treatment as was at first intended; and the changes then introduced led to the plan being widened until the completed book took the form of a general introduction to sociological subjects for beginners, either European or native; covering the whole ground of social science as prescribed for the sixth standard of the public schools. At the same time, the original simplicity of plan was not lost sight of, the more complex subjects being dealt with in separate chapters. The result is a very complete treatise, of over 300 pages. It might at first be supposed that a work of this kind, undertaken by direction of the late Government, would be influenced in some degree by the political bias of the party in power; but such is not the case. The assurance in the preface that the work has no political significance, and that no restrictions were placed upon the author in carrying it out, is quite borne out by the contents. The political economy of the book is sound; and most of the popular fallacies regarding currency, foreign trade, protective duties, land, capital, and labor, are exposed and refuted. The author possesses in a high degree the art of illustrating principles by concrete application, and the numerous incidental references to Maori ways and ideas will be found an advantage even greater to the European learner than to the native, as affording the opportunity of shewing the same principles at work in widely different states of society. We miss the ordinary logical clearness, however, in chapter v, in the incidental reference to the State and liquor legislation, where there is some confusion both of terms and ideas. In fact, the whole subject is so loosely stated that no definite conclusion can be gathered from what is written. The writer makes no distinction between manufacture, sale, and use: and overlooks the principle that there are many private evils which the State may not touch, but the traffic in which it is called upon to prohibit. A weak point—for which the author is not responsible— appears in dealing with such subjects as individual conduct and motive. We here enter upon a region which—owing primarily to sectarian jealousy—our author finds is forbidden ground. He has to speak of « the powers of Nature » with a capital N, and to treat of the development of society almost as if family and State relationships, and the very perception of right and wrong, had been evolved in the conflict for existence among tribes in a state of animalism. That such is not the author's intention is plain from page 170 and elsewhere—but a system of education which prohibits clear teaching on the very fundamentals of a subject of such importance must be radically at fault. Some might be offended; but what then? A large proportion of the people are protectionists—they will find much to irritate them if they read Mr Pope's book. There are some who would protest against the statement that the earth is a rotating sphere. We think that, while in a few minor matters the book is open to improvement, it is on the whole a very valuable educational work.

International commerce has its its penalties as well as its advantages; and among the former we may reckon the world-wide distribution of animal and vegetable pests. A few years ago, New Zealand was almost exempt from these destructive creatures—now every garden and orchard bears testimony to their presence and persistence. More than one small treatise on the subject of garden pests has already been issued, and useful papers have appeared from time to time in the Transactions; but Mr Maskell's work is the most thorough attempt of the kind that has yet been made—in fact, no private publisher would have undertaken the risk of producing so complete a book. The volume before us contains 116 pages and 23 plates, mostly colored, and is entirely devoted to one class of garden enemies, the ubiquitous, and often malodorous and altogether disgusting « scale » insects. The various nostrums in common use are examined. Some of these, it appears, are so effective as to kill both insect and plant; others kill the plant, and do the insect little harm; many kill the insect and leave the eggs; others, again, are neutral. The potent pyrethrum, it seems, is useless against coccids. Of all insecticides, kerosine, properly applied, appears to be the best; but against the horrible and omniverous Icerya Purchasi—only too well known in Napier, which will batten upon the juices of any vegetable, from the orange to the bitter horehound,—the only remedy is to cut down the plant, and burn it, root and branch. The lithographic plates, drawn by the author, and executed at Mr Willis's establishment, reflect the greatest credit on the artist, Mr Potts. We can offer no criticism as to their correctness as to form and color, which we take for granted; but we can appreciate the accurate register. Everyone who has a garden should have Mr Maskell's book. Pests of other orders and classes are to be dealt with in a future volume.