298 JOURNAL OF TEE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



physics, chemistry, and botany is assumed, and practically the whole of 

 the book is devoted to the applications of these general subjects to the 

 study of soils, more particularly cultivated ones. It describes the 

 formation of soils in considerable detail, and the nature of the different 

 substances. The popular adage that " a limestone country is a rich 

 country " is one which cultivators on chalky and lime stone soils do 

 •not frequently agree with, as such soils are usually regarded as hungry 

 ones. However, reasons are given in justification of the popular idea. 

 The discussion of the action of bacteria in soils occupies many pages. 



To English readers the work will appear to go very thoroughly into 

 the study of soil physics, because this branch of allied science has been, 

 and still is, very greatly neglected in this country. If organisers of 

 horticultural education realised that a knowledge of applied physics is at 

 least equally important to a knowledge of biology or chemistry in 

 enabling cultivators to render their plants healthy and self-resistant to 

 disease, this book would be found absolutely indispensable at least for 

 the teacher, the advanced student, and the more-educated practitioner, 

 farmer, or gardener. 



The chapters on the recognition of the character of soil from their 

 native vegetation supply the reader with information upon a subject 

 which has been too long neglected in this country. 



The work must necessarily find a niche in many libraries besides 

 those of agricultural and horticultural institutions. In all libraries of 

 such institutions the authorities should see that there is at least one 

 copy. Of necessity highly technical, it is for the most part beyond the 

 comprehension of the average cultivator. It is a book for the educated 

 person who, having digested the facts, may in turn interest and profitably 

 instruct those who are unable to appreciate the feast of knowledge here 

 set out. 



"A Book of English Gardens." By M. R. Gloag, illustrated by 

 K. M. Wyatt. 8vo. 340 pp. (Methuen, London.) 10s. 6d. net. 



This book will repay the careful reader, and to describe individually 

 the gardens of several of the great houses of England was a happy idea, 

 and one that has not been overdone. In the description of Ashridge one 

 .finds the use of coloured gravel in decoration denounced by Lord Bacon 

 in no measured terms : " As for the making of knots or figures with 

 divers coloured earths that they may lie under the windows of the house 

 on the side, which the garden stands, they be but toys — you may see as 

 good sight many times in tarts." It is also at Ashridge that we read of a 

 lavender and herb garden : " A lavender garden, what a delight. It is a 

 simple herb, but beloved by all, and by none more than the old garden 

 writers. A delicious fragrance lingers in a herb garden, one which seems 

 to exist nowhere else and is never enervating or sickly, but always 

 bracing, almost in fact health -giving. In these days of gorgeous blossoms 

 few people realise the subtle charm which lies in these humbler plants or 

 how much suffering they have soothed, with faith to help their magic 

 flowers." This must be a wonderful garden indeed, and this is really a 

 delightful chapter. 



At Knole we are introduced to another lavender garden, the sweet- 



