246 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN 



1896. 'The Bamboo Garden,' by A. B. Freeman 

 Mitford, C.B. Mr. Mitford tells us in his preface that his 

 book is simply an attempt to give a descriptive list 

 what the French call a catalogue raisonnb of the hardy 

 Bamboos in cultivation in this country. We ought to be 

 grateful that he has brought within the reach of every- 

 body all that is to be said on this most beautiful family. 



1895. ' A History of Gardening in England,' by the 

 Hon. Alicia Amherst. This is by far the most interest- 

 ing and remarkable book that, I believe, has ever been 

 written on the subject, and far surpasses in every way 

 Mr. Johnson's ' History of Gardening,' before alluded to. 

 The book is full of information, drawn from patient 

 and most diligent research, and will be of real utility 

 to students of the literature and history of gardening 

 and to the owners of large places. It contains little 

 that will practically help people who live in cottages 

 and small villas. It alludes only very indirectly to the 

 beautiful illustrated flower books, especially the foreign 

 ones, which so far exceed our own in artistic beauty and 

 skill. It is rather sad that when the Society of Gardeners 

 wished to illustrate their plants in 1736 they had to 

 engage the services of Jacob van Huysum, brother of the 

 Dutch flower-painter ; and to this day the best periodical 

 coloured flower-printing, though painted by Englishmen, 

 is printed in Belgium (vide ' The Garden '). Miss Amherst's 

 book is one for constant reference ; and the greater one's 

 knowledge, the greater will be one's appreciation of it. I 

 cannot but regret, however, that it has been printed on the 

 disagreeable modern shiny paper, which also makes the 

 book most inconveniently heavy. This paper, I am told, 

 facilitates the reproduction of the illustrations ; but these, 

 also, are very hard and ugly, and quite unworthy of the 

 book. 



It is almost impossible to keep pace with the modern 



