SOME BOOKS FOR AN AMATEUR GARDENER'S LIBRARY. 407 



" In the last edition of this work, the author adopted in a great 

 measure the system of Linnaeus . . . . , but as many of the plants 

 which were treated of ... . were not to be found in any of Linnaeus's 

 works then published, Tournefort's system was also applied to take 

 in such as were not fully known to Dr. Linnaeus ; but since that time, 

 the learned professor having made great additions to his works . . . 

 the author has now applied Linnaeus's method entirely, except in such 

 particulars where, the Doctor not having had an opportunity of seeing 

 the plants growing, they are arranged by him in wrong classes ; as 

 for instance the ' Ilex .... and Laurus ' " ; and he goes on to show 

 Linnaeus had not discovered that both of these bore the male and 

 female flowers on separate plants. 



Miller's work appeared first in an octavo edition in two volumes 

 in 1724 and much enlarged in folio in 1731, an appendix being added 

 in 1735- The book must have been in constant demand for the best 

 part of a century, as edition after edition was published, the last (9th) 

 newly arranged by Thomas Martyn (1797-1807). The " Figures of 

 the most beautiful, useful, and uncommon plants described in the 

 Gardeners' Dictionary " (1760) (300 coloured plates, price now £3 5s.), 

 formed a most valuable addition ; they marked an epoch in botanical 

 illustration, some of them being signed by unsurpassed masters like 

 G. Ehret. Nearly all the editions were pirated by Dublin printers ; 

 and further, six abridged editions found a market. The work was 

 also translated into German and French. It is a fine old book, but 

 perhaps more of a luxury than a necessity for the ordinary amateur 

 gardener. 



So far I have nam_ed only large and important books, Encyclo- 

 paedias, somewhat costly and useful to those with fairly large 

 gardens, and a desire to be thorough in their work in them. So I 

 will mention a small book, cheerily written, costing only half a crown, 

 but very useful to a beginner with a small garden. It is " A Handy 

 Book of Horticulture," by F. C. Hayes, Rector of Raheny, in the 

 County Dubhn, pubHshed in 1901. The author describes his aim 

 in writing it thus : " There is a demand for a simple book on horti- 

 culture — a book, for instance, such as a country gentleman who is 

 anxious to encourage his tenants, and to interest them in their cottage 

 gardens, could put into their hands ... to meet such requirements 

 I have endeavoured to compile a Handy-book of Horticulture, which 

 shall be at the same time simple and practical." I believe he has 

 succeeded as thoroughly as anyone who has attempted the same sort 

 of work, and the book should prove useful not only to those with small 

 gardens and little knowledge, but also to teachers in horticultural 

 classes in schools. There is a rich store of sound knowledge brightly , 

 and clearly set out in its pages ; for instance, " Under no circumstances 

 should ground be trodden upon or worked when it is in a moist state. 

 Garden plots, where this rule is broken, are generally more fitted for 

 making bricks than for growing vegetables." 



After describing the way to prune Red Currants by shortening 



