12 RECORD OF HORTICULTURE. 



materially assist in their cultivation, as it is full of practi- 

 cal information, besides giving a very good description of 

 nearly all the known species and varieties. The author 

 could advantageously have given more explicit directions 

 in propagation, especially of the Lily, which is now attract- 

 ing so much attention. Also a description of the newer 

 varieties. But upon the whole it is the best treatise on 

 the subject published in this country. 



Garden Flowers. How to Cultivate Them. By E, S. Rand. 

 Boston : Tilton & Co. 12mo ; 384 pp. ; muslin, $3 00. 



We regret the necessity which compels us to say that 

 this work is not worthy of the author. It is a botanical 

 list of trees and plants with the botany left out. The 

 practical part is very deficient, as only general rules are 

 given. There are many errors in the botanical names, 

 especially in reference to our native plants, which is scarce- 

 ly excusable while Mr. Rand has one of the most noted 

 living botanists — Dr. Gray — for his neighbor. For in- 

 stance, Virgilia lutea is now called Cladrastis tinctoria, 

 (see Gray). Washingtonia gigantea, the great tree of Cal- 

 ifornia, is Sequoia gigantea, and never was called Wash- 

 ingtonia by any botanist of note. Similar errors are abun- 

 dant througliout the work, and they detract very much 

 from the usefulness of the book as a botanical list, if noth- 

 ing more. Another serious error is — the author continu- 

 ally confounds varieties with species, making no line of 

 demarkation. This work of Mr. Rand is the least valuable 

 one he has given us, and will be of but little service to 

 those Avlio have the " Cottage Gardener's Dictionary." 



