426 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



published in 1879, and one edited by Lauche, published in 1883 

 including the more modern varieties. 



Of quite recent works there are a few well worthy of inclusion, 

 and among the most important stands " Deutschlands Apfelsorten," 

 by Dr. Th. Engelbrecht (Braunschweig, 1889, 8vo.). This work, 

 as the title indicates, is entirely devoted to apples, and no fewer than 

 688 varieties are described, each being illustrated by an outline figure. 

 The arrangement follows the Diel-Lucas system of classification. 

 The fruit alone is described, but very fully, and certain details, such as 

 the pistil characters, are not to be found in other works. References 

 to literature are also given. The varieties described are naturally 

 mostly of German origin, but a large number of the fruits are those 

 of other countries. 



A good work, with coloured plates, is the " Aepfel und Birnen " of 

 Goethe, Degenkolb, and Mertens, an octavo volume published at 

 Berlin in 1894. This describes briefly a selected list of 53 apples and 

 51 pears. A coloured plate of moderate merit is given of each sort. 

 The work is useful for certain of the newer German varieties not .figured 

 elsewhere. 



Of modern German works none better can be selected than 

 " Deutsche Pomologie " by W. Lauche. This consists of six volumes, of 

 which two are devoted to the apple, two to the pear, one to cherries 

 and plums, and one to apricots, peaches, and grapes. The litho- 

 graphed figures are very well produced, the colours being exact. A 

 leaf and a flower are generally included. The whole plant is described, 

 and references are given to history and literature. 



Maurer's Stachelbeerbuch, iiber die besten und verbreitetsten 

 Stachelbeersorten " (zusammengestellt von Louis Maurer, Stuttgart, 

 1913) is without doubt the finest monograph on the gooseberry that has 

 yet appeared. One hundred and fifty-eight varieties are described and 

 photographed, and fourteen coloured plates are added. The descrip- 

 tions are the most detailed, and the name of Maurer is enough to ensure 

 that they are the result of long and careful study. Very valuable are 

 the preliminary notes on the constant characters used in description. 



It will be noticed that all the works so far mentioned are systematic, 

 and not cultural. Of the latter so many are produced that it is 

 difficult to select any one as a typical example. In Germany, however, 

 the works of Gaucher have long been accorded a premier place for 

 instructions on pruning, training, &c., and it will therefore be necessary 

 only to refer to these. 



The most elaborate is the " Handbuch der Obstkultur," by 

 Nicholas Gaucher, one portrait, 625 woodcuts, and 16 tables. This 

 colossal work has already run into four editions, and for detailed 

 instructions as to training trees it is probably unique. 



A smaller work dealing with less detail on cultural matters is the 

 Obstbaukunde " by the same author, with 211 woodcuts (Berlin, 

 1912, 2nd edition). It provides ample information for the average 

 gardener, and can be thoroughly recommended. 



