BOOK REVIEWS. 



BOOK REVIEWS. 



" British Grasses and their Employment in Agriculture." By S. F. Arm- 

 strong. 8vo. viii -f 199 pp. (University Press, Cambridge, 1917.) 6s. net. 



Grasses are of such enormous value on the farm and in such demand where 

 lawns are to be made and maintained, that a really good book dealing adequately 

 with them is bound to find a place near to the hand of the farmer and the gardener. 

 Nothing quite so good as this for their purposes has appeared in English, and 

 whether we test it for its botanical accuracy, the value of the numerous (mostly 

 original) drawings and photographs that illustrate it, or the information on the 

 characteristics of growth which the farmer and gardener need to take into account, 

 we find it full, clear, and exact. Considerable space is given up to the description 

 of the seed, and to statistics concerning purity and capacity for germination as 

 well as to notes upon the nature of the impurities that may be expected to occur 

 in different samples. Altogether it is a book which should be in the hands of 

 everyone whose interest and business it may be to deal with British grasses in 

 any way. 



" Late Cabbage." By E. N. Reed. 8vo. xiii + 131 pp. (Chapman 

 and Hall, London, 191 7.) 6s. net. 



A treatise on the cultivation of such a common field crop for one particular 

 season is somewhat of a novelty in market-gardening, but the treatment meted 

 out to the subject amply justifies the innovation. No cultivator of cabbages 

 can afford to neglect, if he wishes for full crops, the thorough working of the 

 soil which the writer advocates, for upon it depends not only the constant supply 

 of water necessary for the well-being of the plants throughout their lives, but 

 also the equally important fact that there need then be no delay in transplanting 

 at the proper time. Every experienced grower knows that delay at the early 

 end of the season means failure to produce hard and heavy heads at harvest, 

 just as every grower knows that too great space may lead to the production 

 of heads too large for the market. The times and the seasons as well as the 

 diction are more familiar to the Americans than to the English grower, but 

 the principles enunciated and the main lessons taught are the same for England 

 as America. 



The following is typical of the diction : " What is the best method to follow 

 when transplanting cabbage ? The time used to be when hand-setting was 

 thought best, but that time has long gone by. Perhaps quite a portion of the 

 growers are using two-horse machines." The author then goes on to describe 

 these machines and their drawbacks, comparing them in cost with the " Masters' 

 Hand Planter" to the praise of the latter both for economy and efficiency; 

 and he finally says " It seems as if there are a few facts stated here that every 

 thinking man would grasp" (pp. 52-58). 



The various pests which attack the cabbage are described and appropriate 

 methods of dealing with them detailed. 



The saving of cabbage seed is also described and the necessary precautions 

 outlined. 



" Grapes, and How to Grow Them." By J. Landsell. Ed. 3. Edited by 

 T.W.Sanders. Ed. 3. 8vo. 114 pp. (Collingridge, London, 1919.) 35. 6d. net. 



Amateurs who possess only one greenhouse, and others with larger accom- 

 modation, often inquire for a practical book on Vines and their management, 

 which is not too expensive for limited means ; and in this book they will find 

 all the information they are likely to need. The chapter dealing with Vines 

 in Greenhouses in which other plants are growing as well is particularly valuable 

 for the amateur ; and the other chapters are excellent for all grape-growers, 

 and well worthy of close attention. 



"Vegetable Gardening." By J. S. Chisholm. 8vo. 126 pp. (Jack, 

 London, 1919.) is. 3d. net. 



When we say this excellent little book was written by Mr. Chisholm, the 

 Senior Lecturer in Horticulture, Edinburgh, and East of Scotland College of 

 Agriculture, some idea may be formed of its practical and exceedingly valuable 



