92 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



" Links with the Past in the Plant World." By A. 0. Seward. 

 8vo. ix + 142 pp. (University Press, Cambridge, 1912.) Is. net. 



A most interesting, popular account of the origin of some of our 

 great groups of plants as indicated by the fossil vegetation of the past. 

 It is well written, well printed, and well illustrated. 



"Forest Physiography." By I. Bowman, Ph.D. 8vo. xxii + 

 759 pp. (Chapman & Hall, London, 1911.) 21s. net. 



This work is one of the utmost importance to those engaged in 

 forestry anywhere in the world, for though it deals with the interaction 

 between soils and earth configuration and forests in America, the 

 principles laid down will hold anywhere. 



Maps and diagrams and half-tone illustrations help to elucidate the 

 text, and the subject will be found to be most completely treated. 



''The Profitable Culture of Vegetables, for Market Gardeners, 

 Small Holders, and others." By Thos. Smith, F.E.H.S. 8vo. 

 pp. 452. (Longmans, London, 1911.) 6s. net. 



We have no hesitation in saying that this is the finest book dealing 

 with this difficult matter that we have ever come across, combining 

 as it does all the best of what has been written on the subject 

 and much that has never before been put into words, but which is the 

 accumulated result of generations of practice in this difficult art both 

 in this country and on the Continent. 



We wish to lay emphasis on the latter feature of this book, since 

 it is one which distinguishes it from very many of the books which are 

 published with gardening subjects, and which enables it to fulfil in 

 some considerable measure the aim which the author had in view, 

 as he tells us in the preface. " The purpose of this book is to supply 

 such information as the grower of vegetables is likely to require in 

 connexion with the productive part of his business, from the prepara- 

 tion of the soil to the marketing of the produce. ... I have endeav- 

 oured to convey the information clearly, in full detail, but free from 

 superfluities, and it is my earnest hope that it will be found of real 

 help ... I have made the venture because, in spite of their number 

 and variety and the great value of some of them, I have hitherto 

 failed to find one which satisfies me as being just the book those 

 engaged in the culture of vegetables are in need of. The result may 

 easily prove that I also have failed to produce what is required, but 

 I shall at least know that I have tried to the best of my ability to do 

 work which needed doing." 



The subject is most thoroughly dealt with, as a glance through the 

 list of chapters abundantly shows, Soil and its Treatment," " Man- 

 ures and Fertilizers," "Selection of a Small Holding," "Potation 

 of Cultivation, Manuring, and Cropping " all being subjects which 

 precede those dealing directly with the details of the cultivation of each 

 particular vegetable. 



