no 



IRISH GARDENING 



R 



eviews. 



Vegetable Culture for Amateurs-* 



This small book i.s the outcome of thirty years' 

 experience in the cultivation of vegetables, and 

 is written especially to help the amateur. All 

 the really useful kinds of vegetables arc described 

 in alphabetical order, the cultural details are 

 described with lists of the best varieties t<> grow 

 for home use and some suitable for exhibition. 

 The manures most suitable to each crop are given, 

 with pests that are injurious and methods of 

 exterminating them. 



The advice given is practical and sound, while at 

 the end of the book may be found a useful 

 calendar of work for the twelve months. 



Propagation and Pruning, f 



The author has had a long experience in teaching 

 horticulture, and conveys his information to 

 readers so that it is easily understood. 



The book is not confined to propagation and 

 pruning, but includes chapters upon other 

 related subjects. The work opens with Plant 

 Physiology, giving the reader an idea of the 

 internal structure of a plant. Propagation is 

 next dealt with in its various forms, such as 

 seeds, cuttings, leaves, layering, budding and 

 grafting. July and August are the months 

 recommended for budding, when the bark lifts 

 freely from the wood. It is said " amateurs 

 often fail in the successful budding of roses 

 through not keeping the newly inserted buds 

 shaded for a few days after the operation," but 

 it is probable that novices fail more frequently 

 because they do not realise the necessity for 

 taking the bud with a base. 



Chapters are given upon transplanting and 

 manuring, followed by the propagation of the 

 various kinds of fruit trees, dowering shrubs. 

 trees and conifers. 



The last chapter treats of the propagation <>;' 

 Stove and Greenhouse plaits, but in the spelling 

 of the botanical names errors are too frequent. 

 When dealing with the Cherry, Cerasus Nakabeb 



is said to be the stock for dwarf trees, but. we 

 presume, that Cerasus .Mahaleb. the St. Lucie 

 Cherry, is meant. 



Illustrations are given at the end of the hook. 

 and the type is Large and clear 



Insecticides, Fungicides, and Weed- 

 killers | 



Till'; author aims at providing a work of reference 

 that shall lie useful to all who wish to protect 

 plants against disease. Mis book is the result of 

 much labour, and is marked by that orderly 

 treatment which generally characterizes French 

 scientific works. hi'. Bourcarl has made an 

 earnest effort, too. to put his subject on a logical 

 basis : and. 1 hough much of his work is necessarily 



* " Vegetable Culture." By Trevor Monmouth. New Third Edition. 

 Illustrated, Paper, is. net. Published by Upcott Gill. 



t " Propagation and Pruning." By J. C Newsham, F.L.S. Pub- 

 lished by Ciosby,'Lockwood x Son, 7 Stationers' Hall Court, Ludgate- 

 Hill, London. Price, 6s. net. 



X Insecticides. Fungicides, and Weedkillers." liy K. tSourcart, li.Sr. 

 Translated from the French by Donald Grant. Published bj Scott, 

 Greenwood Jc Son, 8 Broadway, Ludgate, B.C. Price. 1:2s (id. net. 



a compilation, he realises there is need for a 

 science of prophylaxy as applied to plants. In 



his introductory chapter he endeavours to 

 formulate the principles of such a science, but 

 his treatment is too sketchy to he satisfactory. 



The bulk of the work consists of a series of 

 chapters dealing in turn with the various chemical 

 substances that Mud their way into the gardener's 

 armoury. After a description of the sources, 

 preparation, and properties of each of these, its 

 use is discussed; and an attempt is made to 

 explain its action on chemical and physiological 

 grounds. We then get practical details of 

 methods of application — often accompanied by 

 useful cautions. Finally we are given an orderly 

 discussion of those diseases and pests against 

 which the particular substance has been found 

 effective. Throughout, the author makes fre- 

 quent reference to experimental work that has 

 been done in gardens, vineyards, fields and 

 orchards. His historical allusions lend addi- 

 tional interest to much of his writing. The book 

 concludes with a glossary and an index, both 

 admirably designed to facilitate reference to 

 plants, diseases, or chemicals. 



This brief summary of contents conveys but 

 a poor impression of the wealth of detail with 

 which the four hundred and fifty closely printed 

 pages abound. Generally it may be said that 

 the work is one that should find a. place in every 

 horticultural reference library. When a second 

 edition is demanded, however, one or two slight 

 improvements might well be made. The trans- 

 lator could well, in many places, give a smoother 

 rendering of the French. Again, the few illus- 

 trations are in execution unworthy of the text. 

 Indeed it is high time that a new block was 

 issued of the figure of the Eclair sprayer. 



As the sub-title of the work indicates that it is 

 intended for the use of manufacturing chemists 

 as well as of agriculturists, .ve.. some notice 

 might have been taken of Pickering's work on 

 the composition of the various precipitates 

 formed on the addition of lime to copper sulphate. 

 Surely, too. the translator exaggerates when, in a 

 footnote, he states that "the agricultural 

 quality of blue vitriol contains up to 5<> per cent, 

 or more of green vitriol." The reaction taking 

 place on adding a solution of carbonate of soda 

 to one of a copper salt is not so simple as the 

 equation on p. 277 would indicate: hence any 

 calculation of (plant it ies based thereon is mis- 

 leading. 



^* «^* e^* 



Iris chrysographes. 



Tin.-- new Iris was flowering at. Clasneviu during 

 the end of June. A Chinese species, found by 

 E3. II. Wilson in L908, it is one which should 

 become popular on account of the deep rich 

 velvety purple colour of its flowers, set off by 

 Hanking gold lines, which suggested the name of 

 i he species, although in some specimens the gold 



lines are less marked than in ol hers, while the 

 standards of (he Mowers are long and narrow, 

 pointing out wards at an angle <>f about 15 . 

 Tin' flower stems are about 2 feet bigh, rising 

 above narrow Leaves, which curve gracefully 

 out wards. 



[ris chrysographes belongs t <» t he sibirica group, 

 and grows freely in any good ordinary soil, but, 

 like the Siberian Iris, appreciates moisture. 



