72 JOUENAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



next edition we would suggest to the author to add " English or Broad- 

 leaved " to Paradise stock on p. 143, as this is infinitely superior to the 

 French Paradise stock : the latter should never be used in this country 

 when planting bash or pyramid trained trees. We also think it must 

 have been a printer's error to place "Beauty of Bath " amongst cooking 

 apples, as this is of no value for cooking, but is one of the best early 

 dessert varieties. With these exceptions we have nothing but praise for 

 the little work. 



" Garden Rockery : How to Make, Plant, and Manage It." By Francis 

 George Heath. 8vo., 173 pp. (Routledge, London, 1908.) Is. 



To anyone about to construct a rockery this will be a very useful book, 

 as it points out what to do and what to avoid. With many the tendency 

 is to attempt too much, to use too much stone, making the rockery very 

 artificial instead of natural. Again, the way in which stones are placed in 

 the rockery is of vast importance, and here the instructions of the author 

 will be most serviceable, showing by illustration how they should be 

 fixed. There is an excellent list of plants suitable for the rockery, and 

 the whole is well printed and illustrated. 



"Alpines and Bog Plants." By Reginald Farrer. 8vo., 288 pp. 

 (Arnold, London, 1908.) 7s. 6d. net. 



This may be described as a companion book to "My Rock Garden," 

 being written and printed in the same style. The present volume is sure 

 to be appreciated, as it treats a very popular phase of present-day 

 gardening, and we venture to think a phase that will become still more 

 popular, as many garden-owners are now taking less interest in their 

 glass erections, and developing Alpine, bog, and water gardening to an 

 extent probably never equalled before. From the first chapter on " Shrubs 

 and their Placing" and the second chapter on "Shrubs, mostly Ever- 

 green," one may learn valuable lessons, as the author has studied the 

 plants in their native habitat, and tells us under exactly what conditions 

 they seem to thrive best. We are glad Mr. Farrer points out the hardi- 

 ness of so many beautiful shrubs, as many who really love their garden 

 have still little idea of the wealth of hardy shrubs ; the beautiful Nandina 

 domes tica with its handsome foliage, for instance, so rarely seen, and 

 quite as hardy as the common laurel, but infinitely more beautiful. The 

 same applies to climbing plants ; many still plant Wistaria sinensis, and 

 we agree with the author that at her best she is but a poor pallid widow 

 compared with the bridal opulence of Wistaria multijuga. This is only 

 one example of what Mr. Farrer points out as desirable improvements in 

 our gardens ; there are many others quite as good. The other chapters 

 on Alpine plants, large and small Bog plants, Iris, Lilies, the Water 

 Garden, &c, are all admirably written, and in such a clear manner that no 

 one can fail to follow the author and his ideas all through the book. The 

 illustrations are excellent. 



" The Book of the Pansy, Viola, and Violet." By Howard H. Crane. 

 8vo. 106 pp. (Lane, London, 1908.) 2s. Gel net. 



In this book we have an excellent history of the pansy and viola, with 

 exceedingly good chapters on their uses and cultivation, the insect and 



