9 2 



IRISH GARDENING 



The Origin and History of our Garden 

 Vegetables-* 



This little book will be of interest and value to 

 all those who grow vegetables: it traces the 

 history of our garden vegetables from antiquity 

 downwards, in many instances giving the deriva- 

 tion of names. Some were known in the days of 

 Theophrastus of the 4th century, B.C., Pliny 

 wrote about several in the first century, A.D., 

 while in the middle ages Herbals were written 

 from which some of the illustrations in the book 

 are taken. 



It also shows how the plants have varied under 

 cultivation, or have been developed in many 

 instances from our own wild plants. In most 

 cases the plants were first grown and collected 

 for their medicinal properties, their use as dings 

 passing probably to use as salads, and then to 

 culinary usage. 



Wild celery or marsh parsley which grows in 

 our ditches and streams, used as a drug in olden 

 times, is injurious to eat. It is said that not 

 until about the year 1 070 was it blanched, 

 whereby the unwholesome properties disappeared 

 and it was rendered palatable. 



The power and effect of cultivation and selec- 

 tion is strongly shown in this little book. We 

 learn how from the wild perennial beet of our 

 seashores the garden beet, and even the mangold 

 wurzel, have been developed. A perennial plant 

 thus being turned into a biennial by cultivation 

 and selection, while in the case of the carrot life 

 is prolonged, an annual being turned into a 

 biennial. 



Commercial Gardening.! 



Although several smaller works have from time 

 to time appeared dealing with fruit, vegetables 

 and market crops, yet there was no really com- 

 prehensive work to which anyone starting in 

 business could refer to in time of need. The 

 task of editing such a wOrk is not a light one ; 

 fortunately it fell to the lot of Mr. John Weathers 

 to undertake the duty, and he brings to 1 he 

 subject a ready pen, a life-long experience of 

 gardening, and a good knowledge of 1 he prin- 

 ciples and science which underlie garden practice 

 and an acquaintance with the commercial side 

 of gardening. 



"Commercial Gsfrdering " is issued in four 

 volumes, super-royal octavo, strongly bound in 

 cloth, and runs to about 1,000 pages. Well 

 printed, abundantly and thoughtfully illustrated, 

 the work stands out as one of great importance 

 and reliability, and may he. easily read and 

 understood by everyone. 



Including the editor, there are twenty con- 

 tributors, who are authorities on the special 

 brandies upon which they write. Some of our 

 so-called practical books are written or compiled 

 by those with a ready pen and only a nodding 

 acquaintance of the subject ; it is not so in this 

 case, for names such as Messrs. Rear, Cragg, 

 Engelmarin, Lobjoit, &c, tell us that the 

 cultural articles are the real thing. These 

 writers Are some of the leading market-growers, 

 who Sits making, or have made, their livelihood 

 from their business ability and success in growing 

 produce for the market, and they write as 



*" Tfie Origin, and History of our Garden Vegetables." Bj Rev. 

 Prof. 6. Henslow, M.A. Published by Royal Horticultural Society, 

 Vincent .Square. London- Price, 2s. 



t "Commercial Gardening". Edited by John Weathers. I'.K II 8. 

 (The Gresham Publishing Co., 34 and 35 Southampton Street, 

 Strand, London), i vols. Price, 9s. each vol. 



practical growers to practical men to show how 

 gardening can be made a paying concern. This 

 is the central idea of the hook, although in order 

 to give growers a clear and intelligent idea of the 

 subject some scientific knowledge is imparted in 

 such chapters as "The Science of Haul 

 Growing," by John Fraser ; '* The Science of the 

 Soil, and Manures and .Manuring." by the Editor. 

 Then again the up-to-date grower has to know 

 how to combat the various insect and fungus 

 pests which attack garden and fruit crops. The 

 two well-known specialists. Prof. P. V. Theobald, 

 .M.A.. and Mr. George Massee, deal with the 

 diseases of fruit, while in Vol. I. there is an article 

 on " Insect Pests," unsigned, which contains a 

 good list of the pests, with illustrations whereby 

 they may identified. 



II' .Mr. <;. Gordon in writing on the " General 

 Aspects of Commercial Gardening" had given 

 us something more useful on the " Hardy Plant 

 Trade" it would have been advantageous, for 

 this trade is a growing one. while " Japanese 

 Gardening," to which more space is devoted, is 

 lucrative to only a very few nurserymen. Space 

 will not permit to del ail all the excellent articles 

 on greenhouse plants, bulb farming, hardy 

 (lowers, ferns, and the various vegetable crops, 

 French gardening, glass-house building, &c, but 

 mention must be made of Vol. :'>, which deals 

 with fruit. Here in an article on " Commercial 

 Fruit Growing." Mr. Lobjoit deals with vital 

 questions, not often attacked, concerning the 

 tenant and the landlord of a fruit plantation and 

 the conditions of a holding. Sir Frederick Moore 

 contributes an article on " Fruit Growing in 

 Ireland," while Mr. .lames Udale writes on 

 "Fruit in Worcestershire." and the Scottish 

 article on this subject is written bj Mr. J. M. 

 Hodge, of Blairgowrie. 



We can congratulate the editor (who is an 

 Irishman) and the publishers in producing a most 

 useful and helpful work from which many will 

 derive valuable information. 



With Camera and Rucksack in the 

 Oberland and Valais.* 



TIME was when one's works on gardening were 

 few. Robinson and Thompson were Eor years 

 the sole occupants of a corner of my bookshelf 

 until the coining of Miss .lekyll and her garden 

 story books. Since then works of a similar 



nature have followed last on each other's foot- 

 steps. No longer is ii necessary Eor us to seek 

 knowledge in purely technical works. We can put 

 them on one side and lake up instead works of 

 travel, where, here and I here, amidst descriptions 



of lascinat ing plant hunts and breathless mountain 



climbs we may glean the knowledge that is 

 essential t<> the care and cultivation of our 

 plants. 



The work- on Alpines alone have by now nearly 

 filled one bookshelf, and the latest — by Mr. 



Reginald .Mai by is now before me. 



In it he describes his tours in the Oberland and 



Valais in search of Alpines suitable Eor purposes 

 of photography and collection. Bis descriptions 



are so vivid and his photographs so helpful that. 

 by their aid, even those Of US who are no! able 

 to visit, in person, the scene of his travels can 

 from our study chair follow him through the 



••'With Camera and Rttcksncls in the Oberland and Valais." By 

 Reginald A. Malby, I R.P.8. Published by Readies Bros., Bwhops- 

 ati , i ondon. Pp. 306. Price, LOs. 6d net. 



