124 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST, 



own showy wild-flowers and offer them in exchange for 

 others. A convenient seed packet for this work that can 

 be made in the field as wanted was described and figured 

 in volume III of this journal. The exchange of plants 

 costs more for transportation but is often desirable. In 

 such cases small but vigorous plants should be selected, 

 wrapped in damp moss and mailed in a tin box. The 

 postage on living plants is one-half cent an ounce and 

 bulbs, tubers and rhizomes may be sent at the same rate. 



* * 

 * 



The death of J. W. Withers, owner oi American Gar- 

 dening, caused that journal to suspend for afew issues. It 

 has now appeared under new management with the pros- 

 pect of numerous improvements. Mr. Leonard Barron 

 has been retained in his position as editor. 



BOOKS AND WRITERS. 



''The Flower Garden" b}^ Ida D. Bennett, is evidently 

 the work of a practical gardener, though written by a 

 woman ; no dabbler in such matters would be able to 

 crowd a book with so many helpful suggestions as she 

 has done. The cultivator of flowers will seldom be disap- 

 pointed when turning to it for help. This is especially 

 true in reference to numerous minor hints which the ordi- 

 nary gardening books fail to include. The twenty-four 

 chapters treat of all phases of flower gardening from the 

 location and arrangement of the garden to winter protec- 

 tion and includes such subjects as aquatics, hardy shrubs, 

 care of bulbs and roots during winter, the blooming sea- 

 son of various trees, shrubs and herbs, the common names 

 of flowers, etc. There are about forty illustrations most- 

 ly, however, of a kind that do not illustrate. Amateurs 

 will find the book a very desirable addition to their stock. 

 (New York, McClure, Phillips & Co., $2.00 net.) 



