THE GARDEN MAGAZINE IS GROWING UP 
EING now eighteen months old this 
magazine proposes to celebrate by 
adding to itself a cover printed in colors be- 
ginning with the September number.  Per- 
haps no monthly published ever had such 
beautiful material for covers as THE GARDEN 
MacazineE. Flower cover designs represented 
in black and white reproductions are dull and 
lifeless when compared with the color photo- 
graphs which it is now possible to make. A 
further advantage will be the protection to the 
magazine itself. 
A PLAGUE OF BAD PAPER 
Early in June we had the misfortune to hit 
upon a bad lot of coated paper. The highly 
polished surface of the paper used for THE 
GARDEN MAGAZINE is secured by sizing the 
stock before the French clay is applied, and 
running it between great roller calenders, 
producing the perfectly smooth finish upon 
which cuts can be printed that contain 175 
lines to the square inch. Unhappily this 
sizing went wrong in the hot weather, pro- 
ducing a perfume offensive to many readers, 
who wrote us complaining. ‘To all these we 
replied explaining that the trouble was by no 
means a permanent one; but the people who 
did not write are the ones we are disturbed 
about. We regret this ancient and fishlike 
odor, and hope it is gone forever. We dis- 
covered the bad stock and saved part of the 
edition before it was too late, and we only 
mention the matter now to let our readers 
know that the best paper we can get goes 
into al! of our magazines, and no stone is 
jeft unturned—if we know it—to increase 
their good qualities. 
ATTRACTIVE BARNS 
Country Life in America is anxious to get 
photographs of attractive barns. If any 
reader of THE GARDEN MAGAZINE has a new 
or an old barn which has any practical ad- 
vantages, is suggestive and good to lock upon, 
the editors of Country Life in America will be 
glad to have the interesting facts and photo- 
THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
TALK: OFTHE -( | 
“To business that we love we rise betime 
And go to ’t with delight.”—A xtony and Cleopatra 
graphs, and will gladly pay for the readers’ 
trouble in sending such material. 
WILL AN AUSTRALIAN NOVEL SUCCEED? THE 
“TRADE”? SAYS NO; WE SAY YES 
Six or seven years ago there came to us the 
manuscript of a book which was published 
under the title of ‘‘Bob, Son of Battle.” 
This strong and worthy novel had no sale 
whatever for some time, and to this day it has 
never come to its own in England, though 
more than 100,000 copies have been sold in 
America; but we were fortunate enough to 
hit upon a plan which called people’s atten- 
tion to the book and helped it to a large suc- 
cess; and since that time it has been more 
and more popular, until we have published 
some fifteen editions, worn out the plates, 
and reset it for still future editions. 
We have now come upon another book 
which is quite as remarkable and as fine in 
its way as “Bob, Son of Battle” was. The 
author is ‘fG. B. Lancaster’’; the book, 
called “The Spur’’, is written as very féw 
people know how to write. It is the story of 
a young man who agreed to follow absolutely 
the dictates of another and older man in 
return for financial help to let him work out 
his literary ambitions. From the ‘‘trade” 
point of view there is one singular drawback: 
the scene of the book is laid in Australia and 
New Zealand, and has a sheep ranch for - 
background. Books about Australia are 
supposed never to sell, but we mean to keep 
the story of Kin Severne, the dominating 
character of ‘‘The Spur,” before readers 
until they at least have had a chance to de- 
cide whether we are right as to its merits. 
We know that they will care for it—if not 
now, later. Some books are sure to find 
their way—‘‘ The Spur” is such a book. 
THE AUGUST FIRST BOOK 
Three years ago we decided to try an ex- 
periment in publishing novels on what was 
accepted as an out-of-season date. The 
first experiment was made in mid-summer. 
The book then issued on August rst, instead 
AveusT, 1906 
of falling flat in a dull season, secured a good 
deal more attention than it could possibly 
have secured at any other time. Since then 
we have always published an important novel 
in August, and this year’s book will be by 
Miss Michelson, author of “In the Bishop’s 
Carriage”’ which has been read by tens of 
thousands. The title of Miss Michelson’s 
novel is “Anthony Overman.” The charm 
of the story is most difficult to describe, but 
the record of the experiences of a strong man 
with the courage of his convictions in love as 
well as in the daily walks of life must always 
be interesting as long as men strive toward an 
ideal. The story of Anthony Overman and 
Jessie Incell is more than interesting; it is 
absorbing—a hard novel to lay down for 
dinner or sleep. 
FLASHLIGHTS IN THE JUNGLE 
Mr. Schillings’ remarkable book of photo- 
graphs and hunting experiences in Africa 
has been out of print for some months. The 
book was printed for us in London from the 
original plates. Our first edition was at once 
taken up, and we have tried the patience of 
our friends in taking so long to get a second. 
However, all orders are now filled, and copies 
are in hand. 
BOOKS THAT ARE LATE 
Our readers may remember that we had 
a printers’ strike on January rst. This ex- 
tended to the electrotypers and all of our 
spring books were delayed. It has been a 
hard fight for the open shop but now we are 
fully equipped and almost caught up again. 
“The Dog Book” has had a host of 
troubles, bad electros, and delays beyond en- 
durance, but it is finally all in type, and we 
expect to have it complete August rst. Ten 
parts, or in two splendid volumes. 
“The Frog Book” should have been ready 
by May rst, but after every conceivable kind 
of delay it was practically finished on June 
tst when some twenty or thirty pages of text 
were lost, strayed, or stolen, and had to be 
reset. This book will be ready also, we hope, 
by August rst. 
