294 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



When such an important subject as the cultivation of the apple 

 is concerned several authorities have been laid under contribution, 

 each of them to deal especially with its characteristics in their own 

 district, so that a comprehensive and accurate purview of the whole 

 matter is obtained. Fruits and vegetables are all well dealt with. 



The book will prove an invaluable addition to any garden library, 

 and a source of reliable information on almost every plant cultivated. 

 The accuracy of spelling of plant names and the like is remarkable 

 all through, while an admirable choice of type renders the consulta 

 tion of the book easy. Only one thing, perhaps, calls for a little 

 criticism— the alleged derivation of some of the generic names. 



" Civic Art : Studies in Town -Planning, Parks, Boulevards, 

 and Open Spaces." By Thomas Mawson, M.R.LB.A. 4to. 376 pp. 

 (Batsford, London, 1911.) 



The author of this well got-up, instructive, amply illustrated 

 book is well known as a landscape gardener of proved ability, and 

 well known too as an authority on town-planning. Town-planning 

 has for its aim the betterment of the material conditions of those 

 who have to live in great industrial centres. Its experts have to 

 consider not only the planning of wide and airy thoroughfares, 

 arranged in every way so as to provide ready access to all parts of 

 the district, and so as to connect all the principal communal buildings, 

 open spaces, and the like, and to provide conveniences of all kinds 

 to beautify and facilitate the use of these thoroughfares, but they 

 have to design convenient, hygienic, and beautiful houses of all kinds 

 to suit the pockets of all classes of the community. Their task is not 

 an easy one, and while it is perhaps fairly easy to lay down general 

 directions which such work should follow, difficulties of all kinds 

 arise so soon as the principles have to be applied to any particular 

 case. 



The author states in clear terms the principles as he sees them, 

 and goes on to demonstrate by numerous examples the fashion in 

 which they may be applied to particular cases. In no two places 

 are the conditions alike, local topographical conditions vary, the 

 populations to be catered for in different localities have different 

 requirements and different aspirations, and Mr. Mawson does not 

 shirk the responsibilities self-imposed when he undertook the task 

 of writing this book, for his examples have been chosen from the 

 most varied types of site and situation available. He shows himself 

 to be a master of all the factors which go to the making of a competent 

 exponent of civic design in principle and in practice, on the legal, 

 social, and economic sides as on the scientific and technical. 



No detail is omitted : street lamps, garden fencing, tramway shelters, 

 and so on are alluded to and figured. The value of greensward 

 and trees is illustrated. Bridges, statuary, promenades, municipal 

 buildings, grand avenues, cathedrals and cottage homes, the arrange- 

 ment of parks, all come in for their share of attention. 



