Book Reviews 
*The Romance of Our Trees. Ernest H. Wilson, M A., V.M.H. 
Doubleday, Page & Company. $10,00. 
This is really a tree story book and guide book combined. It gives 
interesting accounts of the origins of the trees we have come to 
consider natives but that are truly naturahzed citizens of our forests 
and gardens. It is simply and briefly written, but the vast knowledge 
of the subject that underlies Mr. Wilson's short chapters makes it 
authoritative as a book of reference and entertaining to the casual 
reader. 
The book is well illustrated and the information that it gives as 
to the location of famous trees would alone make it worth possessing. 
Certainly no where else can be found so comprehensive and inter- 
esting an exposition of an almost Umitless subject compressed into so 
convenient and attractive a form. K. L. B. 
The Genus Rosa — ^By Ellen Willmott, F.L.S. Drawings by Alfred 
Parsons, A.R.A. PubHshed by John Murray, London. 
One approaches this book with deepest appreciation as one per- 
ceives the great patience and love the author must have for this large 
family which is of such importance in the flower world. References 
from all parts of the world; quotations from all ages known to man; 
botanical descriptions of minute variations of one species from 
another; illustrations painstakingly reproduced as to color and form; 
and notes of travellers in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, have 
been gathered together to complete this book now offered to the read- 
ing pubhc. From the colds of Iceland to the sun-kissed shores of 
Italy, from the lofty mountain peaks of China to the horizon-bound 
prairies of our own land, blossoms were gathered by rose enthusiasts 
and shipped to either France or England to be nursed back to life 
and coaxed to blossom and fruit under unfamihar skies and conditions. 
Unfortunately this work has been assembled for reference use for 
Ubrary rather than for general reading, which is a mistake, for it offers 
such inspiration to the pleasure of collecting roses and makes it 
possible to trace the parentage of so many of our garden varieties, thus 
giving them a personahty rather than a passing name. In the present 
form it will not be consulted as often as if it were a smaller book 
suitable for an ordinary book shelf. 
One reads of the Rose serafini " dwarf and admirably adapted for 
the Rock garden": where else can you find that interesting bit of 
information? And the Chinese monthly rose, "that has been culti- 
vated from time immemorial in the East." On the following page is 
found a color plate of a garden variety known as Miss Willmott's 
indica — which is without a rival in beauty and color. 
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