BOOK REVIEWS. 
539 
8 * The Allotment Book." By Walter Brett. 8vo. 92 pp. (Pearson, London, 
917.) is. net. 
A book that will appeal specially to allotment holders, as it will be of great 
assistance to them in the trials they will meet in cultivating their plots, 
" The Potato Book." By J. C. Newsham, F.L.S. 8vo. 92 PP- (Pearson, 
London, 1917.) is. net. 
As might be expected from such a well-known author, this handbook is full 
of sound and valuable information, and all who are interested in potato-growing 
would do well to read carefully what Mr. Newsham says. 
" 1,000 Gardening Hints." By H. H. Thomas. 8vo. 152^ pp. (Cassell, 
London, 1917.) is. 3rf. net. 
A most useful compilation of excellent hints and recipes on gardening matters, 
some of which will be appreciated almost daily. A first-rate index is given. 
" Rockeries : How to make and plant them." By H. H. Thomas, assisted 
by S. Arnott. 8vo. 142 pp. (Cassell, London, 191 7.) 1s.3rf.net. 
One of the best handbooks on rock gardens we have seen, and crammed 
from end to end with a mass of thoroughly sound, practical, well-written matter 
that will interest the reader immensely. 
' Britain's Heritage of Science." By A. Schuster, F.R.S.* and A. E, Shipley, 
F.R.S, 8vo. xv + 334 pp. (Constable, London, 191 7.) 85.6rf.net. 
In perusing a German scientific work one cannot fail to be struck by the 
copious references given to other papers upon the same subject, and by the 
apparently remarkable part German and some other Continental scientific workers 
have taken in developing our knowledge of the particular matter dealt with, 
British work is often referred to very briefly in such books. Yet* without 
claiming more than is her just due, we may still claim that not a few of the 
greatest and most far-reaching conceptions of Nature have had their birth in 
this land of ours, and not a small part of the developments that have grown out 
of those conceptions have been due to the devoted and enlightening research of 
Britain's sons. Why should we, as we so often do, belittle the work of our 
own countrymen by too loudly belauding that of others ? Theirs may be good, 
and so is ours. Let us not in proud humility stand aside when others make 
detrimental comparisons between Britain's share in the advancement of know- 
ledge and the shares others have taken, but let us put this book into the hands 
of our youths to teach them what a heritage has been bequeathed to us by British 
workers in many fields, It will surely stimulate them to further pursuit of know- 
ledge and awaken a pride in them of careful research, 
" The Irish Allotment Book." By L, J. Humphrey, 8vo s 54 pp. and 
plan* (Kenny Press, Dublin [1918].) Paper covers, 7rf, 
There are so many useful books on allotment gardening as a result of the war 
conditions as to be almost bewildering. Fortunately most of them insist upon 
deep cultivation, liming, rational systems of manuring; and the choice of the most 
valuable crops is insisted upon to occupy the ground. They differ in matters 
of small details, which are, nevertheless, often important. One can find some- 
thing one would wish altered in almost all of them, though the good points, 
as here, generally predominate, so that the book is extremely useful. 
The present little book illustrates this, Double-digging can be done by 
making the second trench equal the first in width, but it can be done more easily 
by making the first trench six inches wider than the second. The firming of tho 
ground before seed-sowing is a method heartily to be recommended in most soils, 
but there is no need, in fact there is some danger, m firming it again after the seeds 
are in, A loose covering on the surface above the seeds is to be preferred to a 
close one on all counts, A useful set of rules for Allotment Societies is given at 
the end of the book, 
" Modern Fruit Growing," By W, P, Seabrook, 8vo 4 Pp, 172, (Lock- 
wood Press, London, 1918,) 4s, 6rf, net. 
This is one of the most excellent up-to-date books on the subject it deals with 
that we have seen, but in the next edition we suggest that the title be altered to 
