426 JOUENAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



are named. The innumerable diseases and pests that attack vegetables 

 are described, and the best methods of fighting such foes are fully dealt 

 with. The whole book is so very practical and reliable, that we have no 

 hesitation in recommending every gardener to read it. We are glad to 

 see the writer advocates manuring asparagus beds in February instead of 

 in the autumn, and that all " cutting " of asparagus should cease by Mid- 

 summer Day. Thousands of beds are ruined by cutting too late ; and 

 again, autumn manuring is of little value, as all the salts in the manure 

 are washed away by winter rains before any roots can derive any benefit. 

 We would suggest an index in the next edition. 



" Fruit Eanching in British Columbia." By J. T. Bealby, M.A. 8vo., 

 196 pp. (Black, London, 1909.) 35. 6d. net. 



The magnificent apples exhibited at the Boyal Horticultural Society's 

 Colonial Shows in London since 1904 have directed much attention to 

 British Columbia as the producer of the finest apples from any colony. 

 Their size, splendid colour, and excellent flavour have always secured 

 them a Gold Medal. This naturally caused the eyes of intending fruit 

 growers to turn to British Columbia as a great field for fruit culture, 

 many going out, and others seriously thinking of doing so, and all such 

 should read carefully Mr. Bealby's book. It is the experience of a man 

 who is actually a fruit-grower in British Columbia, and who has worked 

 sufficiently long in the colony to enable him to speak with authority on 

 the subject. Moreover he has found it a pleasant and profitable occupa- 

 tion. The author lays down and later on dilates upon the following 

 facts : — (1) British Columbia produces some of the very finest apples 

 grown anywhere in the world ; (2) fruit-growing can be, and is, carried 

 on successully as a commercial enterprize ; (3) the life is interesting, 

 pleasant, and, after the first year or so, easy ; (4) the fruit-ranch affords 

 a satisfactory escape from the stress and strain of city life, and gives an 

 added dignity and freedom to one's sense of individuality. 



We do not think the statements of returns are at all exaggerated, viz. 

 £70 to £80 from an acre as a gross average, and the net annual profit 

 £25 to £30 from an acre for an orchard nine years old. More than this 

 has been made in Britain, but there is always a difficulty in getting small 

 quantities of good land adapted for fruit-culture in this country, and 

 while we still feel convinced that fruit-growing will pay in this country 

 provided one can get the right kind of land, it is probably more easy to 

 acquire it at a moderate cost in British Columbia. The book is well 

 written and well printed, and the illustrations are good, but it lacks an 

 index. 



" In a Yorkshire Garden." By Keginald Farrer. Demy 8vo., 316 pp. 

 (Edward Arnold, London, 1909.) 10s. Qd. net. 



All Mr. Farrer's books on hardy plants, rock gardens, &c, have been 

 full of interesting instruction, but in our opinion his last work on his own 

 garden in Yorkshire is the best, and will be read by all hardy-plant 

 growers more greedily than any of his other books, interesting as they 

 are. The major portion is devoted to rock plants, and is so well written 



