BOOK EEVIEWS. 



657 



whose ideas of cottage gardens are apparently different from those of 

 the authoress. The larger part of it is taken up with a description of 

 the writer's garden, the trials she underwent in the acquisition of her 

 horticultural knowledge, and the way in which she converted a rock- 

 strewn New Hampshire wilderness into a beautiful garden. One has 

 to look through more than the usual quantity of chaff to find a grain 

 of wheat. Her lists of plants recommended on pages 60, 84, &c., 

 would be more valuable if the plants were less vaguely described, many 

 being indicated by the generic names only, while others are called by 

 names which are either not generally known in this country or are 

 variously applied in different localities — e.g. Johnny-jump-up, bouncing 

 Bet, bachelor's buttons, boy love, baby's breath, &c. This is, however, 

 atoned for to some extent by a good index. 



The spelling or form of some of the names needs revision — e.g. 

 Tangetes (p. 243) instead of Tagetes, Phlox suhlata (pp. 171 and 213) 

 instead of P. suhulata, Aster Nova-Belgii (p. 223) instead of A. novi- 

 helgii, Weigelia (pp. 72 and 85) instead of Weigela, Oenothera 

 fruiticosa instead of 0. fruticosa, Auhretia Leichthinii (p. 83) instead 

 of Auhrietia Leichtlinii, Lineria marrocana (p. 61) instead of Linaria 

 maroccana, and many others. 



There are various descriptions of plants and cultural directions to 

 which we take exception. At p. 181 the Spanish Iris is stated to be 

 a still later variety than the English. At p. 103 the perennial phlox 

 is classed with the Heleniums and Sunflowers as attaining an unruly 

 height, and pinching is recommended. At p. 189 an unknowing 

 reader is likely to be misled by the statement that Lathyrus latifolius 

 alhus has clusters of flowers and buds larger than the sweet pea; and 

 the same objection applies to the advice on p. 102 to plant annuals and 

 perennials thickly and relieve the congestion, if necessary, by picking 

 off the lower leaves. 



Nearly one-third of the book is composed of a list of shrubs and 

 plants classified according to colour and month of flowering, with 

 descriptive and cultural notes, and this is the only really useful part 

 of the book. However, as the notes are written for the climate of one 

 of the New England States, we doubt whether in this country the book 

 will survive the struggle for existence among so many books catering 

 for the same class. 



" The Science and Practice of Manuring." By W. Dyke. Demy 

 12mo., 132 pp. (Lockwood Press, London, 1910.) Paper, Is. 



A very useful little book, alike for the beginner and the experienced, 

 the information about manures and manuring being both elementary 

 and comprehensive. Mr. John Wright, in a foreword, expresses " the 

 opinion that not elsewhere is so much sound knowledge of the subjects 

 treated to be found for a shilling. ' ' 



" Teachers' Notes on Nature Study: Plants and Animals." Anon. 

 8vo., viii -I- 232 pp. (Blackie, London, 1910.) Is. 6d. net. 



This is issued to suit the new ways of teaching an old subject." 

 Whoever compiled it failed entirely to realize what Nature Study 



VOL. XXXVI. X X 



