BOOK REVIEWS. 



727 



some manual dexterity, such as budding or pruning, are described, 

 illustrations are given in the text to show how the work should be 

 accomplished. The illustration of the proper way to cut a shoot 

 when rose pruning is a little puzzling at first, but if the reader will 

 remember that the shoot is to be cut upwards and not downwards 

 all will go well. The illustration in question shows clearly the necessity 

 of firmly grasping the lower part of the branch when severing the 

 stem with the knife, a very necessary precaution if an accurate and 

 clean cut is to be made. The improvement in the making of secateurs, 

 however, is gradually settling the long controversy between knife 

 and secateurs in favour of the latter. " If," say the authors, " one 

 has a moderately large collection of roses the use of the knife renders 

 the work of pruning a very lengthy one. Very few rosarians, I imagine, 

 now make use of the knife ; the secateurs have taken their place. 

 Blunt or ill-made secateurs bruise instead of cutting the shoots, but 

 providing a good instrument is obtained and the blades are kept 

 sharp, there is nothing to be urged against their use and much to be 

 said in their favour." There are no doubt many inferior makes of 

 secateurs often employed in gardens, but instruments can now be 

 obtained that will cut cleanly and with the precision of a surgical 

 instrument, so that there is no longer any excuse for careless work 

 in this respect. 



Now that so much attention is being directed to the treatment 

 of the numerous diseases and pests which attack our roses, one turns 

 naturally, and with some interest, to the chapter on this subject which 

 is written by Mr. H. H. Aitken. Its perusal leaves the impression 

 that the author is but little inclined to put faith in heroic methods, 

 and would rely rather on good methods of cultivation and prevention 

 than in attempts to cure the established disease. He considers the 

 disease known as black spot is becoming more widely distributed, and 

 that no real cure has yet been found for it. We think, however, that 

 while he admits its evil effects he fails to grasp fully how very serious 

 the disease is in our gardens. Now that we want our roses to last 

 into October or even December, to find a bed stripped of its leaves 

 in the middle of summer is most unfortunate, and if it be in an im- 

 portant position in the garden the effect may be disastrous, for the 

 plants will be of little further use for that year, and moreover will 

 be more prone than they otherwise would be to suffer from the frosts 

 of the following winter. A safe and effective remedy that would 

 extirpate the disease at its onset is much to be desired by rosarians. 



The book contains an excellent calendar of operations round the 

 year in the Rose garden. The writers recommend the application of 

 manure in autumn to be dug into trenches between the plants. No 

 doubt where manure is applied at this season this is the best method 

 of doing it, but it may be questioned whether it is well to lay down 

 too arbitrary a rule on the matter. To get the best results out of his 

 garden the gardener should study his own particular soil, and it is 

 not unlikely that there are soils, particularly of a light or sandy nature; 



