400 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
more usual garden plants, together with the symptoms and treatment of the 
ills by which each plant is known to be attacked. 
Insect attacks are also described, together with the best means of warding 
against them, which is the better way ; or of combating them when present. 
There is also, we are glad to notice, a chapter on Insect Friends — hitherto a 
very neglected subject, and one on which the most profound ignorance prevails. 
The wholesale and indiscriminating massacre of insects by gardeners cannot be 
too strongly condemned, as witness the case of an amateur who, after killing 
hundreds of ladybirds last summer, sent a few to the writer, asking if it had 
not been right to do so ! One sentence in this chapter we must quote, as it is 
such an excellent illustration of the thoroughly practical common-sense observa- 
tion of the "Garden Doctor": "Insects provided with long legg, and (or) 
powerful wings, large eyes, and conspicuous jaws, are unlikely to feed mainly 
on plants. They are equipped with the implements of the hunter ; and the 
soil abounds in such." 
" Conifers and their Characteristics." By C. Coltman Rogers. 8vo. xiii + 
333 pp. (Murray, London, 1920.) 21s.net. 
The author sets out with the laudable purpose of giving in small compass 
the means of identifying the coniferous trees of our gardens and parks, and 
some information about them. The former aim is accomplished by analytical 
tables on pages 263 to 305, the latter takes the remainder of the book. The 
amount of the information given is, however, by no means commensurate 
with the space occupied. 
The exact meaning of some of the notes in the analytical tables is doubtful. 
For instance, the male flowers of Tsuga are said to be " on axils " (p. 283), 
and on the same page T. Brunoniana is said to have " bright white thick 
stomata effect on under surface " of leaves. For the rest perhaps the "legend" 
of fig. 4, opposite p. 159, may be regarded as typical. There two small photo- 
graphs of apparently the same cone-bearing twig of Libocedrus decurrens are 
printed, and the description runs, " Libocedrus decurrens, also Libocedrus 
decurrens." A certain fanciful wit, but often expressed in inverted sentences, 
and in words used in a sense often etymologically exact but in these days 
having a special application different from that given here, characterizes the 
book all through; and one does not feel behind it the authority of those 
masters, Elwes and Henry and Bean, who have so recently given us of their 
best. Nevertheless there is much in this book to interest the amateur tree- 
lover. 
" A Garden Flora : Trees and flowers grown in the gardens at Nymans." 
By L. Messel. Svo. xi + 196 pp. {Country Life, London, 1918.) 105. 6d. 
net. 
Lists of plants cultivated in an enthusiast's garden have always a value for 
others, and when that enthusiast also has courage to attempt what most have 
hesitated to embark upon, the record of his successes or partial successes gives 
an impetus to his neighbours, and encourages them to adventure further, and 
to add fresh experience to the increasing sum of it which has so enriched our 
gardens and our gardening. 
Miss Messel, with the help of others, Mr. Bean, Mr. J. Nix, Mr. Alfred Parsons, 
and Mr. Comber, the enthusiastic gardener in charge of the collection, men whose 
competence none can dispute, has produced a very valuable record of what 
can be done by perseverance, courage, and skill in Sussex, and we commend that 
record to plant-lovers the country through. 
" The Garden that We Made." By the Crown Princess of Sweden. Large 
Svo. 72 pp. (The Religious Tract Society, London, 1920.) los. 6d. 
This is an exceedingly interesting book, and, although the Royal authoress 
evidently considered it more suited for beginners than for experienced gardeners, 
there is much that is worthy of deep consideration by even the most skilful 
readers. We were specially attracted by the chapter on " Making a Rock 
Garden," which is so full of valuable advice and suggestions that it should be 
carefully read and studied by all who are thinking of adding this fascinating 
part of the garden to the existing. Everyone will agree that the rock garden 
should harmonize with its surroundings ; unfortunately, this is not always 
the case, and the most unsuitable places are often selected, with the result 
that, instead of being one of the most charming parts of the garden, it is 
uninteresting, and in some places positively ugly, and avoided by visitors. 
