BOOK REVIEWS. 



409 



" An Essay on the Making of Gardens." By Sir George Sitwell, Bart. 

 8vo., 109 pp. (Murray, London, 1909.) 5s. net. 



The author has evidently made a very careful study of old Italian 

 gardens, and much — very much — that he writes might be studied by 

 makers of gardens in this country with advantage, as we .are too apt to 

 get into grooves and not take into account the surroundings so much as 

 ought to be done. We do not quite agree with the author when he states 

 " I would put the maxim that we must subordinate the house to the 

 landscape, not the landscape to the house first." There may be many 

 instances where this is possible, but in this country, with our uncertain 

 climate, we think the house will generally be the first consideration, and 

 the garden a secondary, although an important, matter. After an interesting 

 introduction, the author opens with a chapter on the making of gardens 

 and indicates the changes that have taken place since the publication of 

 Bacon's essay on gardens in 1625, followed by brief descriptions of 

 gardens in Italy, town gardens, garden details, garden and landscape, 

 house and landscape, order and variety, water magic, sculpture in the 

 garden, &c. The whole is admirably written and well printed. 



"French Gardening." By Thomas Smith, F.R.H.S. 8vo. 128 pp. 

 (Fels, London, 1909.) 2s. 6d. net. 



So much nonsense has been written on the huge profits made by 

 French gardening, that we give this volume a hearty welcome, as it shows 

 in the clearest manner that only a person with capital and skill can make 

 it a profitable enterprise. The author is a practical man, actually 

 engaged in the work, and his writings are of real value. We may quote 

 some of his remarks as a guide to those who may contemplate starting 

 French gardening. For instance, "It should be distinctly understood 

 that for success in this culture, some training in and knowledge of 

 gardening is essential. No reasonable person would think of undertaking 

 the management of any other business without a preliminary training ; 

 yet it is a fact that many people actually think that by reading a book and 

 getting a few verbal explanations they can forthwith undertake, without 

 further preliminary, this highly-specialized business, with full expectation 

 of making a living. Such expectation is foolish, and must end in 

 disappointment and disaster." How very true this is. Another and most 

 important matter is the question of manure, and it is well to observe what 

 the author says under this heading : " The quantity of manure necessary 

 for a two-acre garden, planned on the lines given, is about 1,000 tons 

 annually for the first three years, in addition to the 200 tons already 

 mentioned for making compost, and about 100 tons used the first season 

 for preparing the open-air beds for first crops." In addition to all this, 

 there is the cost of frames, lights, cloches, mats, tools, &c, showing 

 conclusively that only those with a good deal of capital should consider 

 venturing on French gardening at all. We are afraid many have already 

 lost money in this business through lack of capital and knowledge, and 

 probably many others will also fail ; but, on the other hand, the author 

 and his valuable book indicate how money may be made by those 

 possessing the requisite essentials, i.e. capital and skill. The author gives 



