BOOKS REVIEWED. 



201 



with regard to management are such as should easily be followed by any 

 one at all familiar with bee-keeping. That the knowledge county associa- 

 tions and bee literature are now diffusing is greatly helping to promote 

 more scientific practice in relation to bees there can be no doubt. All 

 the same, it is just as well to take much of what is said as to the profits 

 of bee-keeping with a grain of salt. Enthusiasm in any direction often 

 tends to exaggeration. That fact, however, should in no case deter 

 cottagers or amateurs who have gardens from keeping bees and breeding 

 them on the most approved principles. 



Vegetables. — These are treated under two sections : those grown for 

 roots, and those for leaves, shoots, and as salads. Oddly enough, under 

 the first head kinds bearing pods and fruits are included, but are not so 

 specified. The method of classification seems to be an imperfect following 

 of what may be found more methodically defined in the primer on M Vege- 

 table Culture " published by Macmillan. Moreover the diverse vegetables 

 are alphabetically placed in the book, while root, pod, or fruit-bearing 

 things follow in very mixed order, which is rather confusing. Many of 

 the selections given are bright and up to date, and any new book should 

 be relied upon to have the newest and best kinds or varieties of vegetables 

 specified. Salads and herbs get full notice, and generally the advice is 

 excellent. But this cannot be said in relation to Asparagus, as to which 

 it is advised to fork in dressings of manure in the spring. Forking just 

 then might prove to be exceedingly harmful. There are not a few errors 

 in spelling names, such as Hames for James, Allini for Cellini, Leach for 

 Peach, Baumans for Baumanns, and others, showing very slovenly editing. 



Orchard fruit has several pages devoted to it, inclusive of causes of 

 failure in fruit-growing ; the planting of new orchards, number of trees 

 required per acre, cost of same, planting and other items are set forth. 

 When it is said, however, that the trees in fruit may give a return varying 

 from £40 to £100 per acre, it is overlooked that any fair estimate of 

 returns must not be for one year only, but spread over several years. 



Glass Cult lore. — Several pages, with illustrations of glass houses, are 

 devoted to the culture of fruits and vegetables under glass. The mouths 

 of readers are made to water with the information that forced Strawberries 

 in March will secure 20s. per lb. in the market. It is statements of this 

 kind, especially in relation to just one or two small houses, which bring to 

 small growers so much disappointment. Cultural detail is more reliable 

 and better to follow. 



" The Khedive's Country : the Nile Valley and its Products." Edited 

 by G. M. Fenn. 8vo., 180 pp. (Cassell, London.) 5s. 



This little book, based on information supplied by Mr. T. Wright, the 

 superintendent of the Khedive's agricultural estates, is very interesting. 

 It describes the nature and cultivation of the Delta, and the great advantage 

 of the Nile barrage. Abundance of photographs are given of men and cattle 

 at work in the fields. Information is supplied on drainage, roads, and 

 irrigation by hand. Then follows a description of the cattle and horses 

 and sheep. Any one investigating the subject will find much interesting 

 matter about it in this pleasant little book. 



