THE healthy and expanding state of the fruitgrowing industry hi Great Britain is evident from the Royal Horticultural Society's report on the con-ference on cherries and soft fruits held in July last. This follows a similar report of the conference on apples and pears held in 1934. The chairman, Sir Daniel Hall, expressed the opinion in his opening address that no other branch of agriculture has profited so much from the findings of research, and this close connexion between the industry and the various research institutions is fully borne out by the papers read at the conference. These are contributed equally by officers of the research stations and commercial fruit growers, and display a close co-ordination between the two points of view. The subjects dealt with embrace every aspect of the soft fruit industry, particular attention being devoted to cultural problems and the control of pests and diseases, whilst extensive data are presented concerning manurial treatment and the effects of certain mineral deficiencies. A symposium on strawberry cultivation indicates the widespread interest in this fruit and the anxiety of both growers and research workers to deal with the numerous pests which have depleted the crop in recent years. Much information is given regarding the characteristics of varieties of cherries, raspberries and loganberries, and the qualities of fruit required for canning and bottling are also discussed. Copies of the report, price 6s., may be had from the Royal Horticultural Society, Vincent Square, S.W.I.