226 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [14:5— May, 191 8 



Since the manual was first written considerable careful experimental data 

 have been accumulated mainly through the work of the experiment stations. 

 This has necessitated a revision and restatement of some of the principles 

 expressed in the original book written over twenty years ago. The text is thus 

 brought abreast of the latest results of research and investigation on the subject 

 of pruning. 



The work covers the subject in a broad, comprehensive manner as indicated 

 by the titles of some of the chapters: The philosophy or rationale of pruning; 

 the fruit-bud; the wounds and how they heal; the mending of trees; the 

 principles of pruning ; some special modes of training ; American grape-train- 

 ing — general sketch, et. al. 



The author divides the whole subject into (1) the fundamentals and (2) the 

 incidentals. The fundamentals deal with the underlying principles or the 

 philosophy of pruning while the incidentals treat more or less of specific method 

 and practices of pruning. The author has no cherished methods of pruning 

 trees. He gives no didactic rules of his own for shaping a tree. His attitude 

 of mind toward the subject is shown when he says "A good part of the value of 

 pruning lies in the conforming of the plant to regularity of shape and stature, 

 making it convenient for the harvesting of the crop, rendering the plantation 

 easy of tillage, and spraying and meeting the wishes of the grower." 



Like all of Professor Bailey's writings, the pruning book is fascinating in 

 style and in manner of presenting the subject matter and, although one may 

 not be a horticulturist, yet after reading the book one feels as though the grow- 

 ing and pruning of a vine or tree would be the most interesting thing in the 

 world. G. W. H. 



The Child's Food Garden. With a Few Suggestions for Floral Culture, by 

 Van Evrie Kilpatrick, President of the School Garden Association of 

 America. The first volume in the School Garden Series, edited by 

 John W. Ritchie. Cloth. Illustrated. 48 cents. World Book Com- 

 pany, Publishers, Yonkers-on-Hudson, New York. 

 We have always wondered why some one did not write a real child's garden 

 book; and now Dr. Kilpatrick has done this very thing. It is an attractive 

 little book, well illustrated and containing the simplest and plainest directions 

 possible for planting and care of common vegetable and a few flowers. Part I 

 is devoted to the preparation of the soil and care of the plants with directions 

 for thinning, transplanting, harvesting, marketing and accounting. Part II 

 gives information about the common vegetable, when to plant and how to care 

 for each kind. Part III discusses the planting and care of a few common 

 flowers. Part IV tells of the work that should be done by the gardener each 

 month of the year. Part V gives methods of canning, drying and storing 

 vegetables. Part VI contains information concerning a few fungus and insect 

 enemies of plants. The book finishes with a very important appendix which 

 gives a frost map for spring and fall. A time table for planting vegetables and 

 flowers. A table for canning and drying vegetables and a list of searching 

 questions that will test the child's knowledge of gardening. Professor Kil- 

 patrick has given us a very valuable little book that should be in the hands of 

 every child gardener in America this spring. 



