NOVEMBER 229 



Leaves,' by Donald McDonald. This last often gives the 

 name of one scented variety in a perfectly scentless 

 family, such as the Camellia. C. drupifera has scented 

 flowers. I observe that the very faintest odour justifies 

 the inclusion of some plants in both these books. 



1846. ' Flowers and their Associations,' and ' The 

 Field, Garden, and Woodland,' by Anne Pratt. I have 

 none of Anne Pratt's books except this curious little one, 

 given me off a Christmas-tree, by a serious old uncle, because 

 I was fond of flowers, when I was a child. It is roughly 

 illustrated, and contains much desultory information. 



1848. ' The Eose Garden/ by William Paul. This is 

 a most interesting publication as regards plant growth, 

 increased variety, and the utter collapse and deteriora- 

 tion, of the art of illustrating. Viewed by the light of 

 Eedoute's Rose book, it is like turning from a Greek 

 goddess to the stoutest of matrons. The poor Hose ! 

 it has swelled and amplified under cultivation to a 

 despairing degree; but the execution of the plates is 

 answerable for much, no doubt. We have now the 

 figure of the Bourbon Eose, called 'Souvenir de la 

 Malmaison.' Eoses have increased apace in the quarter 

 of a century since Eedoute painted them, but many of 

 the Eoses in this book are now called old-fashioned. 

 The plans and instructions for Eose gardens are not what 

 are now admired, and, one would say are singularly 

 unsuited to the spreading wild growth of healthy Eoses. 



1854. 'A History of British Ferns,' by Edward 

 Newman. Enthusiastic gardeners in the 'Fifties gave 

 a great deal of time and attention to Ferns. Now, 

 people wisely do not attempt them where they will not 

 grow. My other Fern book, published in 1868, is ' Select 

 Ferns and Lycopods, British and Exotic/ by B. S. 

 Williams. A useful book, as Fern-growing in stoves and 

 greenhouses will always be well worth while. 



