648 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of great value for fruit growers in this country. On the debatable 

 question of pruning or not pruning the first year after planting, the 

 authors are very emphatic in favour of pruning at once after plant- 

 ing. Abbreviated, this is what the authors say: ** It is not generally 

 realized that when a tree is taken from the nursery row, a large 

 part of the root system is left in the ground. The balance between 

 the roots and the top is thus destroyed, and obviously a part of the 

 top should be removed. In transplanting, the nursery tree is often 

 deprived of one half or more of its roots, and not only must it become 

 established in the soil, but it must produce a large number of new 

 roots before much new food can be supplied. In the meantime, the 

 leaves begin to push out, and the reserve food and moisture may all 

 be used before the root system is in a condition to supply more. By 

 cutting back the tops and thus reducing the number of buds, this 

 supply is conserved, and thus the tree is tided over the critical period 

 until root hairs are formed. Is it any wonder, then, that the failure to 

 cut back the tops of newly planted trees results in the death of many 

 of them ? ' * There is a great deal more excellent advice on the pruning of 

 trees equally applicable in this country. There is a most interesting 

 table showing how much plant food is removed from an apple orchard 

 in twenty years, as compared with wheat over the same period, and 

 proving how essential it is to manure much more heavily for fruit than 

 for corn, and that scrupulously clean cultivation is not all there is in 

 the handling of orchard land. Much of the information is, of course, 

 unsuited to this country, but, on the other hand, there is much that 

 ought to be read, marked, and learned. 



" The Story of My Old- World Garden and how I made it in a 

 London Suburb.** By G. Hillyard Swinstead, E.I. 8vo., 51 pp. 

 (Baines & Scarsbrook, London, 1910.) 10s. 6d. 



This book is really a work of art, with fifty beautiful and original 

 drawings, designs, and photographs, showing what may be done in a 

 small space, the dimensions of the garden being only 55 by 45 feet. 

 It is astonishing how much can be done, and how beautiful a garden 

 can be made by a born gardener and artist in such a small area. Every 

 page and every illustration is an object lesson that might well be copied 

 on a larger scale, where space will permit of it being done. In these 

 days when everyone is more or less keen on gardening subjects, this 

 book will be attractive on the drawing-room table. 



" Broad Lines in Science Teaching." Edited by F. Hodson, Ph.D., 

 B.Sc, with an introduction by Professor M. E. Sadler, M.A., LL.D. 

 Bvo., xxxvi. -1- 267. (Christophers, London, 1910.) 5s. net. 



" The Teaching of Scientific Method, and Other Papers on Educa- 

 tion." By Professor H. E. Armstrong, LL.D., Ph.D., F.E.S. 

 Ed. 2. Bvo., xxvii. -f504 pp. (Macmillan, London, 1910.) 5s. net. 



