BOOK REVIEWS. 



125 



The claims of the orchid for decorative purposes are well established. 

 Its floral segments are persistent, and consequently not liable to fall 

 or fade rapidly, as do some other flowers. These qualities give a ready 

 demand for the blooms in the market, and already the cultivation of 

 orchids for the purpose advocated has been found remunerative. 



In speciahzing the subject by giving the names of the plants best 

 adapted for growing for cut flowers, together with details of the best 

 method of cultivating them, Mr. Harrison will greatly assist those 

 who wish to embark in the venture, and those who, having already a 

 number of orchids, may be glad to learn how they may make their 

 orchid-growing pay. 



The little book will also be useful to all orchid-growers, for the com- 

 plete cultural instructions and monthly calendar are for general use. 

 The price places it within the reach of all. 



" In a City Garden." By J. R. Aitken. 8vo., 107 pp, (FouHs, 

 Edinburgh, 1913.) 3s. 6d. net. 



In praise of the deservedly praised Royal Botanic Garden of 

 Edinburgh : a book of the four seasons, their ways in the garden, 

 and the thoughts that came to the author as he traversed its lawns 

 and saw and heard the messages the plants had for him. The author's 

 work has much literary charm, and will, we are sure, bring joy to 

 the many who read it. We wish we could say the same for the few 

 coloured illustrations, but they do not please us. Why should 

 chrysanthemums be pictured against a background composed of a 

 sky-scraper, a factory chimney, and a church tower, or a standard 

 rose with a head many sizes too large for the stem, and flowers out 

 of all proportion to the size of the head ? Fortunately the illustrations 

 are few. 



The get-up of the book, with its green cover, its ample margins 

 and uncut edges, its ribbon marker and its gilt top, is very pleasing. 



" The Small Rock Garden." By E. H. Jenkins. Edited by F. W, 

 Harvey. 8vo., 139 pp. (Country Life, London, 1913.) 25. 6d. net. 



In vain will one look for any particular reference to the small 

 rock garden in this book except in the title. There is a chapter on 

 the Alpine house, which can hardly be called an adjunct to a small 

 rock garden. However, apart from this, the book is a practical guide 

 to rock garden making and planting. Useful lists of plants, their 

 heights and times of flowering, are given, though, as usual in such 

 books, they contain many inaccuracies. Saxifraga Burseriana gloria 

 does not need a sunny flank of rock, and might even die in that position. 



" Plant Physiology." By Dr. Ludwig Jost ; translated by Professor 

 R. J. Harvey Gibson. " Supplement, incorporating the alterations of 

 the second edition of the German original." 8vo., 168 pp. (Clarendon 

 Press, Oxford, 1913.) Paper covers, 2s. 6d. net. 



We have already noticed Professor Gibson's excellent translation of 

 Dr. Jost's lectures on Plant Physiology, and it will suffice to say that 



