THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 29 
growing is to keep the glass clean, for light is as needful as water to plants, and 
they rarely get enough of it. 
FRUIT GARDEN, 
Planting may be carried on as weather permits. It is not too late to put in 
cuttings of burr knots and bush fruits. Plantations of fruits that have borne well 
for many years, should now have a thick coat of fat manure spread over. 
NEW BOOKS. 
Darwin on Curmpine Pranrs.—Tur Movements anp Hapits oF CLIMBING 
Puants. By Cuartes Darwin (Murray).—The inquiries of Mr. Darwin into the 
characteristics of climbing plants have in seyeral ways been brought under public 
notice, but not in the complete and systematic manner in which they are presented 
in this delightful little volume, of which the second edition is now before us. The 
lover of plants who needs but casual and accidental observation of their various 
modes of development cannot attain to anything like a perception of the world of 
wonders into which such men as Mr. Darwin force their way. Not many, perhaps, 
are aware that twining and climbing plants revolve with the regularity of clock- 
work, and indeed would but rarely obtain the support they require, were they not 
constantly sweeping the air in circles with their slender, lengthening stems or 
tendrils. An initial movement, consequent, perhaps, on the more rapid growth of 
one side of the stem than on the other, is combined with a sensitiveness that causes 
a contraction and thickening of the prehensile parts as soon as contact is esta- 
blished, appear to be the principal characteristics of these plants, considered solely 
as climbers. Mr. Darwin considers them the most highly-organized members of 
the vegetable kingdom, and seems inclined to claim for them some higher attribute 
than what is generally understood as “vegetable instinct.” There is always one 
comfort in reading the books ot this earnest philosopher, and that is, that he loves 
facts, acquires facts by patient labour, relates facts with wonderful clearness and 
precision, and makes of his well-proven facts the backbone of his treatise, whatever 
his theories on the subject may be. As a lesson in natural theology, his treatise on 
climbing plants is invaluable; and although Mr. Darwin nowhere abandons his 
long-cherished ideas on evolution, we find him here discussing the object of a plant 
in climbing, its selection of the means whereby to climb, and its capability of 
varying its mode of procedure to suit variations of conditions. He thus labours 
with the earnestness proper to a lover of truth to make the climbing plants testify 
that “the hand that made us is Divine.” 
FroraL DrEcorATIONS FoR THE DweELiinc-Houszr. By Annizr Hassarp 
(Maemillan).—Our readers have so many times been aided in their employment of 
floral decorations in the household by the taste and experience of Miss Hassard, 
that they will not need to be informed of her eminent capacity for the production of a 
systematic treatise on the subject. The truth is, the gifted author of this work stands 
alone and far in advance of all competitors, whether as an exhibitor or a judge of 
exhibitions, whether in the preparation of a bouquet for a princess or the decoration 
of a grand saloon for an important public ceremony. Fortunately Miss Hassard 
wields the pen with facility, and the result, in the case be/ore us, is a series of descrip- 
tions and directions that convey the fullest and clearest information possible by 
means of writing; and whoever follows faithfully what is here set forth, must 
soon become proficient in the employment of flowers and fruits for decorative pur- 
poses. ‘The low price of the work (5s.) brings it within the range of a large class 
who cherish refined tastes, but have not the means for extravagant display. 
RamBLEs IN SEARCH OF SHELLS—LAND AND Fresuwater. By T. E. Harring 
(Van Voorst).—This is a very handy and peculiarly concise guide-book to the shells 
commonly met with in gardens, fields, woods, and watercourses, and consequently 
will be of great value to lovers of the country who are not well versed in the humble 
departments of conchology to which snails, and mussels, and limpets belong. The 
style is gossipy, but conveys an immense amount of information, and there are some 
nicely-got-up coloured plates, by the aid of which many of our garden and woodland 
snails may be identified, and their histories traced with little difficulty. The culture 
of edible snails is treated of ; so those who wish to be epicures in snails may have 
reason to thank Mr. Harting. 
January. 
