112 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



vegetation, in which an attempt is made to indicate how the nature of 

 a particular soil may be determined by an examination of its herbage, is 

 certain to attract special attention. We do not agree in every instance 

 with the author as to the indications which some of the selected plants 

 give, but the information generally is so accurate that we wonder who 

 else could have done the work so well. We most heartily recommend 

 this book to every farmer and gardener. 



"Manures for Fruit and other Trees." By A. B. Griffiths, Ph.D. 

 8vo., 264 pp. (R. Sutton, London, 1908.) 7s. Qd. net. 



The present book might have been written as an advertisement for 

 sulphate of iron. There is no doubt whatever that some soils are 

 deficient in iron, and that the lack of colour in fruits, such as apples, 

 is occasionally, if not frequently, due to this deficiency ; but that lack 

 of iron is so invariable we cannot admit as proved beyond reasonable 

 doubt. It is, however, a subject well worthy of determination by 

 experiment, and such work would be of incomparably greater value 

 than continually repeated tests with the same manurial substances, a 

 practice so extremely common. If research work should show that 

 Dr. Griffiths is correct, then he will have deserved the greatest thanks 

 for his persistence ; but we cannot think that extended investigation 

 will fully endorse his views. There are a few other items upon which 

 the author differs from other investigators materially, and although he 

 may be complimented upon having the courage to assert his convictions 

 we hesitate to recommend this book to the general reader without com- 

 menting upon this point. 



There are some valuable analyses, presumably original, and these 

 will almost certainly be frequently used even by those who may not 

 agree with the opinions of the author. The general tenor inclines 

 us to the opinion that the author clings to the exploded theories on the 

 composition of plant-ash instead of using such knowledge as merely 

 suggestive and endeavouring by actual experiment to determine the 

 requirements of the plant. The advice upon thorough cultivation is 

 excellent, and there are many other very good features. It is a book 

 full of suggestions for the experimenter and advanced worker who wishes 

 to investigate. 



" Stephen's Book of the Farm." Div. I. By J. Macdonald. 8vo. 

 260 pp. (Blackwood, 1908.) 10s. 6d. 



We remember what a high opinion we had in our student days of 

 an early edition of this work, but now that we examine the revised 

 edition in the light of some years of practical experience we notice the 

 absence of reference to many special points which personal observation 

 and investigation have shown to be essential in many districts. However, 

 although we feel that the various branches of farming are now best dealt 

 with by specialists, yet we admire this work as containing a vast amount 

 of information on practically every branch of farming. 



The present volume contains nearly three hundred extremely useful 

 figures, many excellent plates of animals, and plans of houses and 

 buildings. The section on hedges, fences, and gates will probably prove 



