544 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



in size from 3-4 oz. to 2 lb. in weight. From Murshedabad alone 

 the author enumerates and describes 103 varieties. The coarsest are 

 fibrous and inferior, and have been likened to " turpentine and tow," 

 but the finest are fibreless, juicy, and very fragrant, and vary much in 

 flavour, from that of the rose to that of champaca flowers, sandal-wood, 

 musk-melon, &c. The methods of cultivation, and the insect and plant 

 parasites and the means of preventing them, are mentioned in detail. 

 Two species of mistletoe are stated to grow on the mango tree. Mr. De 

 is a horticulturist, and the information given is therefore practical and 

 not merely theoretical, but the work will be more useful in the colonies 

 than in this country. 



" Boses : their History, Development, and Cultivation." By the 

 Bev. J. H. Pemberton. 8vo., 336 pp. (Longmans & Co., London.) 

 10s. 6d. net. 



As might be expected from such a well-known grower, exhibitor, and 

 judge, Mr. Pemberton has produced a work that should be read by every 

 rose grower, even by those who have studied and grown roses all their 

 lives. Not only is the information given thoroughly practical, but it is 

 imparted in a pleasing and interesting form. Besides chapters upon 

 the history, development, and botany of the rose, we have others upon 

 soil, treatment, manures, planting, pruning, budding, and other methods 

 of propagation, including raising from seed, hybridising, growing for 

 exhibition, exhibiting, judging, growing under glass, pests, varieties 

 recommended for cultivation, &c. We are glad to see the author dealing 

 so emphatically with the treatment of soils and manures. Many a 

 gardener, and still more frequently the amateur, kills or ruins roses by 

 zeal or mistaken kindness, and, as the author so justly says, "there is 

 a limit to even the strongest digestion ; and although the rose, like the 

 pig, is a gross feeder, nevertheless it is possible to overfeed it, and that 

 is why it is positively harmful to plant the rose in contact with strong 

 manure." This applies to many, many other plants besides roses, and 

 because a moderate amount does good, many imagine much will do still 

 more good — and thus they kill the plants. Again, how many thin out 

 the shoots after pruning, i.e., the young growths made directly after 

 pruning ? Very few, indeed ; and yet this is nearly always advisable, 

 even when flowers are not wanted for exhibition purposes, as there are 

 always in both bush or standard plants a number of weakly shoots that 

 it is evident cannot produce a flower, and only serve to crowd the growth 

 and provide a harbour for insect or fungoid foes. In fact all through 

 this valuable, well-written, and well-printed book important hints on 

 rose growing that it is most advisable should be borne in mind are 

 given. The book is provided with a capital index. 



" Flower Decoration in the House." By Miss Gertrude Jekyll. 

 8vo., 98 pp. (" Country Life," London.) 65. net. 



A well-written book, with good letterpress and freely illustrated. 

 The book supplies a long-felt want, for it shows garden owners what 

 a wealth of material may be obtained for house decoration from a garden 

 of moderate size, even in midwinter, by the judicious selection of foliage 



