BOOKS EECEIVED. 



259 



^Yill find herein plenty of argument and example of the Professor's 

 cherished doctrines : first, that all plants contain within themselves the 

 power of varying definitely so as to adapt themselves to any changed 

 surroundings and conditions of life in which they may happen to find 

 themselves ; and, secondly, that the structure of all flowers has in each 

 case actually come about by the plant's efforts to adapt itself to the con- 

 venience of the insects which visit it and assist in its pollination. It is a 

 most instructive little book, although the Professor occasionally uses hard 

 and technical words and expressions without explaining them sufficiently 

 often to suit the ignorance of his reviewer. 



" Greenhouse Construction." By B. C. Ravenscroft. (L. Upcott Gill, 

 Strand, London.) 



A thoroughly practical book without being too technical. It reviews 

 the whole process of building and heating, from laying the foundation up 

 to the completed greenhouse. The different forms of house and their 

 suitability to different purposes are discussed, also staging, pits and frames, 

 painting and glazing, and at least one- third of the book is devoted to 

 boilers and heating. It will be invaluable to anyone proposing to erect 

 new houses or to reheat or reglaze an old one. 



" The Gardener's Assistant." By Robert Thompson. New edition by 

 W. Watson, F.R.H.S. (Gresham Publishing Company, London.) , In 

 4 vols., 8s. each. 



Vol. iii., lately published, deserves in every respect the excellent report 

 of Vols. i. and ii. given at page 373 of our last issue (Vol. xxv.. Part 3). 

 The work has been admirably done, and were Mr. Thompson still here we 

 are confident that he would express his grateful thanks to the Editor of 

 this re-issue of one of our best standard books. 



"Dictionary of Gardening, The Century Supplement to." By George 

 Nicholson, F.L.S., F.R.H.S., &c. (L. Upcott Gill, Strand, London.) 

 Large post 4to. 18s. Qd. 



Everybody in any way interested in gardens knows that Mr. Nicholson's 

 Dictionary is an absolute sine qua non. It is the book of reference for all 

 gardeners, professional and amateur, and is universally regarded as an 

 authority " on all that it deals with. The present supplement has been 

 issued in order to keep the Dictionary fully up to date in new introduc- 

 tions and in all branches of recent research and discovery. When we 

 say that this supplement is in every respect equal to the previous parts of 

 the work and is full of illustrations of new and rare plants we have said 

 more than enough to make all who possess the older v olumes desire to 

 add this new one to their library shelves, and all gardeners or garden 

 lovers who do not possess the older volumes should at once procure the 

 whole work. It is a book we cannot possibly do without. 



" Gardens, Old and New." (George Newnes, Ltd., London.) Folio. 

 4^2 2s. 



A truly sumptuous volume issued from the " Country Life " office, 

 ^lost Fellows of the Royal Horticultural Society are, we hope, readers 



s 2 



