BOOK REVIEWS. 



93 



We are pleased to see that on the much- vexed subject of " French 

 Gardening ' ' the author takes what appears to us to be a sane, sensible 

 view, neither on the one hand by means of exaggerated statements 

 unduly belauding this particular system of culture, nor on the other, 

 as some writers are prone to do, condemning everything in relation to 

 the attempt to establish it on English soil. 



French gardening, as a specialized business, is therefore not to be 

 recommended except under really favourable conditions ; but the system 

 is rich in hints and suggestions of great value, which can be turned to 

 profitable account by the market gardener." 



Almost every operation connected with the growing of vegetables, 

 from the sowing of the seed to the marketing of the produce, is 

 illustrated by photographs and diagrams, which, combined with the 

 clear wording of the directions in the text, make up a mass of cultural 

 advice which it would be hard for even the dullest reader to misunder- 

 stand. The chapters dealing with general advice as to culture and 

 management, 139 pages, are followed by special details as to the 

 culture of each particular crop, 141-365; a diary of work to be done 

 month by month, 367-381 (we think this is a particularly use^^ul 

 feature, especially to the man who is in doubt when to sow, &c.); 

 grading, packing, and marketing, 382-399; insect pests and fungoid 

 diseases which attack vegetables, chapters contributed by the 

 son of the author, 400-436; miscellaneous information, 437-443, a 

 most valuable chapter to all engaged in growing and marketing vege- 

 tables, giving all sorts of tables of weights, measures, and terms in use 

 in the markets, fertilizing values of various manures, number of plants 

 to the acre, quantity of seed required for an acre, and other things too 

 numerous to mention here — in fact, a mass of information which is so- 

 difficult to find in any book, but which is often so very handy to the 

 busy man engaged in this occupation. 



We are particularly pleased to note that in the chapters dealing with 

 each particular vegetable the author gives a hst of the varieties to grow 

 for the different seasons; for forcing; for early, maincrop, and " lates," 

 and in many cases for various sorts of soils. There is included a very 

 comprehensive index and a host of illustrations and diagrams, so that 

 it should not be difficult for anyone requiring information on any point 

 to quickly find out what he seeks plainly put before him. We can 

 only repeat that we consider this a most valuable book, and state that 

 we intend to have it always handy to refer to in any difficulty we may 

 come across in the business in which we have been engaged for many 

 years, " the culture of vegetables for market." 



" The Plums of New York." By H. V. Hedrick, assisted by E. 

 WelliDgton, 0. M. Taylor, W. H. Alderman, M. J. Dorsey. 4to. 

 616 pp. Eeport of New York Agricultural Experiment Station, 1910. 

 (New York Agr. Exp. St. Albany, 1911.) 



The publication of this modestly named " report " is somewhat of 

 an event in the annals of pomological literature. If published under 



