598 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



much to them from the fact that by them the magiiificeiit 

 Himalayan rhododendrons were first made known. But the 

 ''Journal" is something more than a mere account of tlic 

 botany of the country : it contains numerous interesting observations 

 on the people, their manners and customs, on the birds and insects 

 that attracted the attention of the traveller, as well as on the geography 

 and geology of that part of the wonderful Himalayan region which at i 

 that time was practically unknown. From the first the " Journal " 

 took a high place amongst travel classics; but as originally published 

 it was an expensive work, and therefore beyond the reach of the 

 general reader who had not access to a good library. The moderate | 

 price of the present edition places it within the reach of all readers 

 of this class of literature, and the fact that it contains reproductions 

 of the original illustrations (most of them from drawings by the author) 

 adds greatly to its value. The only abridgment is the omission of 

 some of the appendices which contained matter of purely scientific 

 interest. 



Although books of travel are numerous nowadays and are produced 

 in constantly increasing numbers, there are a few of outstanding merit, 

 such as the "Himalayan Journals," Darwin's ''Voyage of the 

 Beagle," and Wallace's " Malay Archipelago," which will continue to 

 be amongst the most cherished books in the possession of the student 

 of science. ' 



" Annuals, Hardy and Half Hardy." By 0. H. Curtis. 8vo. xi 

 + 116 pp. (Jack, London, 1912.) Is. 6i. net. 



It is difficult to write a book on annuals which is more than an 

 annotated catalogue, but the author has done his best in the present 

 instance along these lines. The usefulness of the annuals in the garden 

 is frequently overlooked, and this little well-illustrated and very compre- ! 

 hensive book should do much to interest lovers of their gardens in these 

 plants and to increase their cultivation. i 



"Planters' Note Book." By E. Woodward, Jr. 8vo. 126 pp. 

 (Gardeners' Chronicle, London.) Limp cloth. Is. 



This is a little book for noting the dates and particulars of planting 

 of new-comers to the garden, with ample space for the purpose. Con- 

 scientious note- taking of this description would not only add to the 

 pleasure of the garden to oneself but leave a number of useful observa- 

 tions for others who follow. 



