84 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



more than a page each. A chapter is given to the origin of 

 the names, another to the use of the iris in art and trade, and 

 then follow more practical chapters on structure, planting, 

 cultivating, propagating, insect and fungus enemies, etc. The 

 book ends with a rather extensive descriptive list of the bet- 

 ter varieties and includes a list of standard and recently intro- 

 duced varieties graded by the recent "iris symposium". The 

 book is exceptionally well printed and has a fair number of 

 illustrations All iris fanciers will, of course, add it to their 

 lists. It is published by Madison Cooper, Calcium, N. Y. 

 at $2.00. 



The book of "Hardy Perennials" recently issued by 

 Charles Scribner's Sons, is by a British author, A. J. MacSelf, 

 the founder of the National Hardy Plant Society of England 

 and naturally reflects somewhat the British view-point. The 

 first part of the book contains seven chapters on preparing the 

 soil, planting, cultivating, and the like, all of which is use- 

 ful and up-to-date. The larger share of the volume is taken 

 up with "Plants Worth Growing" an alphabetically arranged 

 list of all the hardy perennials commonly grown in Great 

 Britain. The notes on the different species are not of the 

 stereotyped botanical kind, but appear to have been made 

 from the author's personal experience with the plants. They 

 consist of opinions as to their value for cultivation, special 

 ways of growing them, the selection of the best varieties, and 

 notes on color, form, florilerousness and the like. The book, 

 of course, can not be unreservedly recommended to beginners 

 in America, hut it is an excellent presentation of how the 

 plants are treated in English gardens, from which all can 

 learn much. In make-up it suggests Thomas' "Hardy Peren- 

 nials" and since this latter volume is now out of print the new 

 one should be especially welcome. It contains upwards of 200 



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