208 JOI UNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



far man beautiful and constantly interesting herbaceous borders and 

 rock-gardens, continues, Mr. Robinson's name will be a household word 

 and his books a household necessity. So well known are all his works 

 that it almost seems an impertinence to render them the full meed of 

 praise which they deserve. Suffice it to say that everyone who loves and 

 cultivates hardy garden flowers should possess and will revel in this 

 volume. 



M ( bchide : their Culture and Management." By W. Watson. Kevised 

 and enlarged by B. J. Chapman. (L. Upcott Gill, London.) 25s. 



The work iu its original form, by Mr. W. Watson of Kew, assisted by 

 Mr. \V. J. Bean, is well known, and has been well received by orchidists 

 generally. In its new edition, which that excellent authority, Mr. H. J. 

 Chapman, has so carefully elaborated, its value has been greatly enhanced, 

 for the previously restricted cultural details and directions respecting the 

 raiding and culture of hybrid Orchids in the old work, have been thoroughly 

 revised and extended, until in the work in its present form they have 

 been made the leading feature. The book, which forms a handsome 

 volume extending over 560 pages, is embellished by twenty coloured 

 plates and numerous illustrations, some of them from old engravings, 

 and the greater and by far the better part from photographs taken by 

 Mr. Chapman himself. 



The plan of the work is on the well-known lines, with chapters 

 dealing with the more important points in Orchid culture, followed by an 

 •.numeration and description of the genera and species, together with 

 further cultural details under each species ; and in one part or other of the 

 work may be found instructions of the clearest kind on apparently every 

 point which the Orchid -grower could seek information about. 



The instructions relating to hybrid Orchids, their culture &c, together 

 with a list of hybrids and their parentage, are the best yet published in 

 any work. In the enumeration of the species, too, the author's name is 

 given to each, and many additions and alterations are made, in the course 

 of which a few errors have crept in. For examples, Coryanthes Bungero- 

 thii is made a synonym of Catasctum Bungcrothii, and Cypripedium 

 Victoria-Maria a variety of C. v am stum, both renderings so manifestly 

 incorrect as to cause wonder as to how they got so placed. Stanhopea 

 i t'i. too, in the illustrations is named S. tiyrina, and a few other 

 errors appear. Nevertheless, the work is the best, most complete, and 

 handiest for reference which has yet appeared, and an important help to 

 Orchid culture in all its branches. 



"The Tree Book." By Mary Howies Jarvis. (John Lane, London.) 3s. 

 Though of little value as a reference work, yet the writer's insight into 

 e< lit. generally should make the book both pleasant and profitable 

 rending. A chapter is devoted to each of our commonly cultivated trees— 

 the Hornbeam, for some reason, is omitted— and includes, with a brief 

 ription of the general appearance and peculiarities, a rather lengthy 

 account of the myths and lore with which many species have become 

 iMOOiaied. The writer is evidently not very clear about the particular 

 wo "' nS(,(1 1,1 th ' making of lead pencils, and wrongly ascribes it to the 



