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BOOK REVIEWS. 447 



of the Board of Agriculture) would seem to us to be a five-year-old 

 bush tree. Yet the only reference to it which we can find in the text 

 mentions it as a standard. 



It is recommended that herbaceous plants should be divided by 

 means of a spade. 



The author suggests several fairly complicated manurial ex- 

 periments. We question the wisdom of this, for in our opinion the 

 problem of manuring is too complex for the school-garden pupil ; 

 and even if it were not, the fact remains, as the author himself says, 

 that the available ground in the average school garden "is so small 

 that results can hardly be accepted as conclusive." 



In the chapter on plant diseases directions are given as to the way 

 in which potatos showing " irregularly-shaped small wart-like growths 

 of a blackish colour " should be treated before planting. If the 

 scheduled disease caused by Chrysophlyctis endobiotica is referred 

 to, as we presume is the case, it surely should have been recommended 

 that tubers which are even suspected of being infected should not be 

 planted. It is not lawful to plant tubers which are known to be 

 attacked by this fungus. 



Care has obviously been taken to avoid the inaccuracies which 

 unfortunately so often accompany simple language. On page 219, 

 however, it would have been better to have used the word water, 

 in place of sap, in the passage " for through them " (i.e. the leaves) 

 " would pass away as vapour precious sap. >} 



The printing and illustrations are both good, and we have no 

 hesitation in recommending this book to all who are interested in 

 school gardens, for it is written upon the right lines. 



" School and Home Gardens." By W. H. Meier. 8vo., 

 iv + 319 pp. ; 157 figs. (Ginn, London, 1913-) 4 s - 



In his preface the author says : " This book gives definite instruction 

 for arranging, planting, and caring for plants commonly grown in 

 house, yard, or garden." Taking this as his aim, we can safely say 

 that the author has ably achieved what he set out to do. The book 

 contains numerous good illustrations and several interesting planting 

 schemes. 



" Agronomy: A Course in Practical Gardening for High Schools." 

 By W. N. Clute. 8vo., xi + 296 pp. ; 194 illustrations. (Ginn, 

 London, 1913.) 4s. 6d. 



This is a book which deserves a place in every school library, and 

 will prove of greatest value to the nature-study teacher. We have 

 nothing but praise for it from the teacher's point of view. The 

 practical exercises at the end of each chapter, together with the 

 references to fuller works, are extremely valuable. Chapter 5, on the 

 organization of the plant, is a remarkably good one. The whole of 

 the book is carefully written and is quite worth the money asked for it. 



