374 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



cultural College, Cirencester. Every Loudon botanist will find it a great aid, both 

 for its ample information of the localities of plants, and also for reference in 

 arranging the herbarium. 



Beautiful-Leaved Plants. By Shirley Hibberd. (Bell and Daldy). — The 

 completion of this work at this season renders it available for a Christmas or New 

 Year's gift. It contains coloured figures of about sixty beautiful-leaved plants, 

 with accompanying descriptions and notes on cultivation. It may appear an expensive 

 book, for twenty-five shillings is a large price for an octavo volume in these cheap 

 times. But it is impossible to produce such plates as these, except at a large outlay, 

 and judges of books will perhaps consider that the quality of the plates and letter- 

 press fully justifies the price, and any lower quality would have been derogatory to 

 the subject. As to the editor's work we, of course, say nothing, but we hope it 

 will be found worthy of the accompanying labours of artist and printer, who have 

 unquestionably done their duty. 



Groombridge's Science Manuals. — Messrs. Groombridge and Sons have 

 undertaken a noble service in behalf of technical education by the publication of 

 this new series of elementary text-books. Three of the series are now before us ; 

 namely, "An Introduction to Scientific Chemistry," by F. S. Barff, M.A ; "An 

 Introduction to the Science of Heat," by T. A. Orme ; and " An Elementary 

 Course of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics," by R. Wormeli, M.A. —These 

 books are exactly what they profess to be ; full enough to establish an earnest 

 student in the principles of the science treated of, and to fit candidates for university 

 examination, and by their systematic arrangement, andembodiment of the latest results 

 of research, serve for all ordinary purposes of reference, or to throw accurate light 

 upon any subject coming properly within their range. They are small, neat volumes, 

 beautifully printed, and remarkably cheap. It may be proper to add, though the 

 names of the authors are sufficient, that the best men for the several subjects have 

 been selected, and their work is worthy of their reputations. 



The Garden Oracle for 1870 contains some new features. The almanac 

 pages are occupied with lists of dessert fruits in the order of their ripening, showing 

 the best varieties for large and small collections, and for succession throughout the 

 year. The greatest care has been takea to render the selections of plants, flowers, 

 vegetables, etc., for the ensuing year as perfect as consultations with about fifty 

 practical florists, and a careful review of the results of exhibitions can render them. 

 A few curious pictures of vegetable monstrosities afford an entertaining feature, 

 which, we hope, will render this issue of the Oracle particularly acceptable to the 

 horticultural public. 



Practical Treatise on the Grape Vine. By William Thomson. Sixth 

 edition. (Blackwood and Sons.) — We have so frequently recommended this work 

 as the best upon the subject of which it treats, that nothing remains now but to 

 announce the issue of a sixth edition. Such additions have been made as were 

 necessary to include the latest possible information connected with grape-growing. 

 It also includes an extra chapter on vine roots, a series of notes on the most cele- 

 brated vines known, and a description of the earliest vinery on record. The 

 following extract from the chapter on the most celebrated vines will be of great 

 interest to a large body of our readers : — 



"Notes on Celebrated Vines. — I am indebted to my friend, Mr. Rose, gardener 

 to her Majesty the Queen at the Royal Gardens, Frogmore, for the following 

 information about two famous vines — the one at Hampton Court, the other at 

 Cumberland Lodge. Of the former, Mr. Rose writes: ' As far as I can learn, the 

 vine at Hampton Court was planted in a small house in the year 1768, and the 

 house has been enlarged from time to time till it has attained its present size. The 

 stem of this vine at the surface of the soil is two feet ten inches in circumference. 

 At three feet from the surface, where it branches into three principal stems, it is 

 three feet in circumference. These three leading stems run along the whole length 

 of the house, branching off right and left, and covering with foliage an area of 1950 

 feet, yielding from 600 lb. to 800 lb. of grapes annually, which are ripened in the 

 autumn. The vine is a black Hamburg, and the system of pruning is the close- 

 spur one. 



" 'That at Cumberland Lodge was planted about seventy years ago in a small 

 pit, by a foreman of the name of Tidy, who managed the place at that date. The 



