i88i, 



NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



237 



bridge ; 2, J. Bryson, Parkend, Helens- 

 burgh. 



A Hand Bouquet.— 1, Messrs Todd & 

 Co., Maitland Street ; 2, Messrs Dowi ie 

 & Laird. 



A Table Bouquet.— Messrs Todd & 

 Co. 



Twelve cut Koses. — 1, J. Bryson ; 2, 

 George Sinclair. 



Twelve Elooms Marechal Xiel Rose. — 

 1, George Sinclair ; 2, J. Bryson. 



Twelve pots Cyclamens. — Messrs 

 Downie k, Laird. 



Six forced Roses, in pots — J. Bryson. 



Four Azaleas. — Messrs Downie k Laird. 



Collection of Hardy Spring Flowers, 

 not less than twelve sorts. — R. Munro, 

 Piershill. 



NOTICES OF BOOKS. :^ 



Improved Pruning and Training of Fruit-trees, or Extension versus 

 Restriction. By John Simpson, AVortley Hall Gardens. The 'Garden' 

 Office, 37 Southampton Street, London. 



This is the first volume — so far as we are aware — that has been entirely 

 devoted to the explanation and advocacy of what is well known as the ex- 

 tension system of training fruit-trees. It is founded on the author's own 

 practice, and is on that account — if for no other — worthy of every respect, 

 especially as nowadays there are writers w^ho idealise on systems neither 

 they nor anybody else has ever practised. The extension system is by no 

 means of recent date, though not generally practised. Nearly forty years ago 

 the late Mr Peter Kay of Finchley was an ardent advocate and practiser of 

 the extension system in Peach-growing, and also in Vines, and filled houses 

 with young trees in very short spaces of time. To such a length did he carry 

 it out, that he allowed two, and sometimes three shoots from a Vine spur, and 

 allowed them to make three, four, and five joints beyond the bunches; and 

 those who were eyewitnesses to his crops at that time will bear us out in 

 saying that his Muscat and Hamburgs were splendid. He practised the 

 system advocated by Mr Simpson, in filling his Peach-houses rapidly ; and, so 

 far as our recollection carries us, the same principle was practised at Wrotham 

 Park about the year 1842. There can be no doubt about the hacking back 

 system, condemned by Mr Simpson, being wrong, and the extension system the 

 better for Peaches and Nectarines, especially under glass, where the wood 

 can be ripened. From our own experience we cannot pronounce so confidently 

 on Plums. We prefer a medium course for them, unless when under glass, 

 and where no doubt exists about ripening the wood. As to the extension 

 system for orchard Apples and Pears, there cannot be a doubt about its 

 superiority to the whittling system, demanded more or less by rows of trees 

 near garden-walks, where, in our opinion. Apples and Pears should never be 

 planted. We suspect the monks were cognisant of, and practised the ex- 

 tension system, just as it has been practised in large Apple-orchards ever 

 since their time. We commend Mr Simpson's little volume for a clear ex- 

 position of free training. U we have any fault to find, it is with his chapter 

 on Vine training; and do not think 2 feet for Hamburgs, &c., and 3 feet 

 for Barbarossa, sufficient width to grow really fine Vines. Mr Simpson refers 

 to the practice of market -gardeners in general, and to Garston and Tweed 

 Vineyard in particular, as bearing out the soundness of his views. But if we 

 mistake not, Vines planted by market-gardeners, as a rule, do not keep long 

 in good condition. It would be interesting to know* how the Vines at Garston, 



