THE BOOK SHELF 218 



bird sanctuaries, and winds up with a chapter relating what various teachers 

 have done for bird study and gives rules for forming bird-study clubs. Mr. 

 Pearson has brought together in this volume very practical information for the 

 bird lover and the teacher. There are 16 full page illustrations from photo- 

 graphs and many line drawings. 



The Book of the Peony, Mrs. Edward Harding. 260 pp., 44 illustrations in 

 color and black and white. Octavo. Handsome cloth. J. B. Lippincott 

 Company. Net $6.00. 



It is a pleasure to take some books in the hands without reference to the 

 contents, and this is one of them ; as one opens it one is still more pleased for 

 first of all the eye revels in the beautiful and artistic colored plates and the 

 beautiful type and wide leisurely margins. The peony has always appealed to 

 the reviewer from the time when as a child she worshipped the vivid, purplish 

 red which every June brought forth in the farmhouse garden, and it still con- 

 tinues giving her a gaspy sort of happiness when she looks at the row of the pink 

 and white and red beauties that grace her present garden. But this book 

 induces a still more "gaspy" pleasure for it reveals undreamed of interesting 

 things about peonies. 



First of all, they have a history that would make the worshipper of pedigree 

 envious, for it reaches back to mythology. The reason for this pedigree lies in 

 the fact that peonies have played such an important part as medicine, P. 

 officinalis, the one that excited our childish admiration, is a native of southern 

 Europe and has been used for medicine so long that it is a part of mythology. 

 The original white peony has an equally interesting history, being a native of 

 China from whence Japan imported it earl}^ in the Eighth Century. 



After the chapter on the history follows a description of the eight types of 

 peonies which have been developed and six short lists of twelve each of the 

 most desirable varieties are given ; then follows a main list of peonies tabulated 

 as to introductory type, list, color, size, season, fragrance, habit of growth, 

 special value. This table covers nineteen pages. The chapters that follow 

 deal with the following topics: Extending the period of Bloom, Purchasing^ 

 Where to plant and how to prepare the soil. Planting and cultivation, Propaga- 

 tion, The tree peony — Descriptions and history, Tree peonies; Cultivation, 

 Propagation and best varieties. Various species of the peony. And last of all 

 in the Appendix is given Diseases of the Peony — by the highest authority in 

 America, Prof. H. H. Whetzel. 



Mrs. Harding is a practical gardener and has one of the best peony gardens 

 in this country. This accounts for the delightfully sympathetic style in which 

 the book is written and at the same time for its practical value. 



Judging Horses — As a Subject of Interest in Teaching School. H. P. Barrows, 

 U. S. Dept. Agr. Bulletin 487, Washington, D. C. 

 A bulletin of 30 pages is introduced by some very practical suggestions of 

 class room discussion of the subject. Then follows very terse and well illus- 

 trated clear directions for the judging of horses including students' score cards 

 for draft and light horses. 



