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THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



logue of American Insect Galls" by Millett Taylor Thompson, 

 which was edited and published after the author's death by E. 

 P. Felt, State Entomologist of New York. The catalogue con- 

 tains 21 plates showing nearly 200 examples of galls and all 

 the forms common in America are listed; first, according to 

 the plants they infest, and then by the genera of insects which 

 produce them. The addition of a Httle more explanatory text 

 would have made this a most useful work. As it is, anyone in- 

 terested in galls will be glad to have it. It is distributed by the 

 Rhode Island Hospital Trust Company, Providence, R. I. 



"Continuous bloom in America" is the somewhat disap- 

 pointing title of a new book by Louise Shelton. From its title, 

 the amateur might jump to the conclusion that the secret of 

 how to make the garden produce fiowers from spring till fall 

 has been discovered, but the text does not bear out the infer- 

 ence. The first few chapters are devoted to when, where, what 

 and how to plant, with much discussion of the proper way to 

 set plants in beds and borders to secure the end in view, and 

 about a hundred pages are given to a list of desirable plants 

 with cultural notes, but the list is sadly lacking in any but the 

 common varieties. In the day lilies (Hemcrocallis) , for in- 

 stance, only one of the half dozen desirable species is men- 

 tioned. For this reason, however, the book may appeal to the 

 novice who commonly does not know the more desirable, if 

 rarer, sorts and may not wish to be confused with such infor- 

 mation at the outset. There is a marked lack of uniformity 

 in the use of plant names ; in some cases the scientific and 

 common names being used indiscriminately in the same list. 

 The scientific names are often curiously abbreviated, as Mer- 

 tensia vir. and Veronica siibsess. Occasionally, also, the spec- 

 ific names are used for plants without a hint as to the genus to 

 which they belong. There are sixteen excellent illustrations of 

 gardens, and while the text is sometimes lacking in details, it 

 is correct and therefore useful. The book is published by 

 Charles Scribners' Sons, New York, at $2.00 net. 



