The Landscape Garden Series. 
The Garden Press, Davenport, Iowa. 
This is a series of ten booklets conveniently assembled in a 
pasteboard box, each treating of a necessary phase of landscape 
gardening. The different divisions are presented by several 
authors who are masters of their subjects. 
In the preface to the series, the editor, Mr. R. R. Root, says : 
"It has been the endeavor of the writers of this series to avoid 
sentimental effusions upon the incidental details of gardening. 
Such articles and books upon the subject of gardening have 
done untold good in arousing interest in this fascinating pastime, 
but it has seemed to the authors of this series that their 
inspirational literature is not supplemented frequently enough 
by clear exposition of the fundamental theories of good plan- 
ning and by practical information as to how these ideas may be 
carried out." This is a just criticism of many books that are 
excellent in other respects. 
Now that we are hearing so much of "dirt farmers" in 
connection with the appointment of the Government officials, 
it is gratifying to find more "dirt gardeners" and "dirt land- 
scape architects" going in for writing books! These booklets 
could not have been done by writers, who, lacking actual 
experience, sat at their desks and used their imaginations only. 
Of such books we have already far too many. 
The format and type are excellent; the illustrations well 
chosen and full of inspiration; the plans and outline sketches 
most helpful ; and the text is clear and to the point. 
In pamphlet No. Ill on "Planting the Home Grounds," Mr. 
Hollister closes with a good chapter on "Sincerity in Planting." 
No. IV, "Plants for the Home Grounds," contains excellent 
lists of suggested species for special uses. The varieties are in 
many cases omitted and left for the gardener's own selection. 
No. V contains a chapter on "Listing, Selecting and Order- 
ing Plants," and really excellent chapters on "Soil Preparation 
and Planting." However, while approving of many of Mr. 
Lawrence's suggestions, I can only half agree with his state- 
ment that "Peonies and Iris do better if planted in the fall." 
The half of my agreement is the Peony half, with which I 
concur most emphatically. In regard to Iris, my own exper- 
ience and that of many fellow-gardeners, has proved that the 
period immediately after blooming is the best time for planting. 
Altogether this contribution to landscape gardening is of 
unusual value. 
A. H. 
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