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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Stevenson's methods, and in one, where the author is depicted cutting 

 flowers from a magnificent row of " Mrs. Hugh Dickson," the splendid 

 results obtained are vividly presented. Would that all writers on sweet 

 peas were as conscientious in their work as Mr. Stevenson. On page 7, 

 he says, Were I not a member of the Floral Committee of the National 

 Sweet Pea Society, I would not grow more than one-third of the varieties 

 I grow now, but I feel, to speak authoritatively, one must not only see 

 growing, but actually grow, many of the varieties for comparison, and 

 watch them under varying conditions, as it is only this constant observa- 

 tion that gives one a true idea of the merits of individual varieties." The 

 writer declares as his opinion after much observation and study that 

 for both light and heavy soils autumn-sown plants, sown and win- 

 tered in pots and planted out in spring, are best for providing good 

 flowers over a long period, and for resisting all kinds of blight and 

 disease. In the directions for spring sowing out of doors, Mr. Steven- 

 son recommends the seeds be sown two or three inches deep ! We 

 fancy this can only be advisable on light soils, and seldom even in 

 them. It is a pleasure to commend this book, and we hope the pub- 

 lishers will soon see their way to bring out a popular edition of it at 

 one shilling. 



"Carnations, Picotees and Pinks." By T. \N. Sanders, F.L.S. 

 8vo. 188 pp. (Collingridge, London, 1910.) 2s. 6d. net. 



There are now many books published on the carnation, all of them 

 containing good practical information. The present volume by Mr. 

 Sanders treats shortly of the history and classification of the genus. 

 The classification and history have been published again and again in 

 books and papers; and in the present instance, it is stated that " the 

 present race of yellow-ground picotees is really due to the efforts of the 

 late Mr. Martin R. Smith." Mr. Smith raised many very beautiful 

 varieties ; but he had excellent material to work with when he took up 

 the yellow-ground picoLee. Many first-class varieties were in cultiva- 

 tion and were being exhibited in London and elsewhere annually before 

 Mr. Smith began to cultivate the carnation. This much in justice to 

 other raisers. Remarks on propagation and culture are very good, and 

 may safely be followed. It is stated that seedlings should be planted 

 out in June, which is right, but as they are to be planted out in a 

 specially prepared bed, a foot apart is too close. They ought to be 

 sixteen to eighteen inches apart. The illustration of layering at page 18 

 is surely unusual ; where much of it has to be done there would not be 

 time to use two pegs to each layer, one of them tied to the layer. The 

 cultivation; in borders and flowerpots is carefully and minutely described. 

 Mr. A. J. Rowberry, an amateur, who exhibited carnations some years 

 ago, has a chapter on cultivation for exhibition ; and to make the work 

 complete instructions for exhibiting the flowers in vases and also on 

 cards are fully explained. There is a calendar of operations, and re- 

 marks on cultivaiion in window boxes. Part II. treats of perpetual 

 flowering carnations and the Malmaison ; and these have been very 



