30*2 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAIj llOirnci l/ri' HAli SOCI hVI'Y. 



" A Book about Eoses': how to grow and show lliem.," By S. R. 

 Hole, with an additional chapter and lists of roses by Dr. A. H. 

 ^Yl^iams. 8vo., 324 pp. (Arnold, London, 1911.) Ss. 6d. 



Dean Hole's charming book on roses is too well known to need 

 description. The numerous editions, from Is. upwards, that have 

 been brought out since its &st appearance are ample proof of its 

 popularity. Dr. Williams' new edition has given us an excuse for 

 reading it again, and it is interesting to notice how well and thoroughly 

 the subject is dealt with,' and hbw little there is to add to the main part 

 of the work. The Dean's roses no doubt have gone and are replaced 

 by varieties possessing a greater continuity of flowering, but in our 

 gardens we still have ' General Jacqueminot, ' ' Gloire de Dijon,' 

 ' Mrs. John Laing,' and ' Ulrich Brunner,' in their special characters 

 scarcely surpassed by any modern roses. 



Dr. Williams has wisely given us the Dean's book in its entirety, 

 and what remains to be added is given by means of an appendix at 

 the end of the book. Here we fmd something about the modern 

 decorative roses, the hybrid teas, and the ramblers and Wichuraiana 

 hybrids, and information about sprays and spraying. Here, too, are 

 lists of the modern roses which have arisen since the Dean's day, those 

 relating to the climbing roses (to which Dr. Williams has given much 

 attention) being particularly well done. The last few pages contain 

 some mistakes in spelling the names of the roses, which should be 

 corrected in a subsequent edition. 



f 



" Spices." By Henry N. Eidley, M.A., G.M.G., F.E.S., F.L.S., 

 Director of the Botanic Gardens, Straits Settlements, 8vo., ix. + 

 449 pp. (Macmillan, London, 1912.) 8s. 6d. net. 



A reliable book on spices was much needed, and Mr. Eidley 's book 

 goes a long way towards supplying that want. The history of spices 

 contains piuch that is romantic and adventurous, but Mr. Eidley has 

 Dot concerned himself with that side of the subject; he has dealt with 

 it strictly from the planting point of view. The introductory chapier ^ 

 gives a concise account of the general principles underlying the cultiva- ! 

 tion of tropical spices, and particular attention is given to the descrip- 

 tions of the composition and uses of insecticides and fungicides. Follow- 

 ing this are thirteen chapters which describe the cultivation and prepara- 

 tion of vanilla, nutmegs and mace, cloves, pimento and allspice, cinna- 

 mom, cassia bark, massoi bark, black peppers, long pepper and grains ,' 

 of paradise, cardamoms, capsicums or chillies, coriander, dill and i 

 cumin, ginger, and other rhizomatous spices, such as turmeric, zedoary, 

 galangal, and calamus root. On each of these subjects. there is full and 

 useful information both for the planter and general reader, and in most 

 cases statistics are furnished showing the extent of the trade in these 

 commodities. The book is well printed on good paper in generous type, 

 but the weak point is the illustrations. In these days of photography 

 and cheap process-blocks it is neither difficult nor expensive to illustrate 

 fully a book of this nature, and, in view of the details of cultivation 



