54 
NATURE NOTES. 
groups found so profusely round about us, we may fitly ask, ^Yhat is the 
difference between nature and horticulture as applied to plant life? We have 
only to reflect for a moment to find an answer, which, elaborated, is the answer. 
Nature builds up a plant in a certain complete and beautiful way, preserving 
symmetry and balance, consistent with the characteristics of the species, stem, 
branches, leaves, inflorescence; untouched, save by wind and rain and sunshine, 
they grow up in their naturally beautiful forms in which they are found in their 
native habitat, in the garden of nature. But when the mind and hand of man 
are brought in, we find all altered, and evidence of treatment which quickly 
manifests itself in the development of a particular feature, to the neglect or at 
the expense of the remaining parts. This is brought out in the book before us: 
the author frankly says, the rose to him is “in most cases only as a means 
whereby I may obtain glorious roses” — meaning, obviously, the blooms, and 
only the blooms. As a decorative plant, even, he scarcely admits the rose a 
place or a value ! 
But it is time we looked more closely at the book itself. We remember then 
that iSIr. Melliar is writing for amateur rose growers, and under the conviction 
that the rose is a medium for the production of show blooms — somewhat in the 
sense that the modern chrysanthemum is a leafy stick, to produce, as a terminal 
decoration, a floral soup plate, of varied shade and pattern. After making 
allowance for the phases and features I have endeavoured to indicate, the book 
has a real value for its practical information. It gives valuable hints, the result 
of experience, upon various points of interest to the rose grower bent upon success- 
ful cultivation. On most maUers connected with the rose Mr. Melliar displays 
a reliant assurance on his methods. He does not believe in a person having a 
rose garden to which he gives but little attention, upon which he bestows no 
absolute labour. He tells us, “I write for enthusiasts, for those who make a 
regular hobby of their roses, and think of them as fondly and almost as fully in 
January as in June.” He goes into details of cultivation very fully, and gives a 
number of facts which show that the supreme gilt of observation has not been 
lacking, but that this faculty has been rightly directed, and the facts duly regis- 
tered as they came within range, have been subjected to that process of actual 
practice which is, after all, the crucible of true analysis. 
The book is divided into fourteen chapters. It treats of history and classifica- 
tion, situation and soil, planting, manures, pruning, stocks, propagation, pests, 
glass-grown roses, exhibiting, manners and customs, selections, and a calendar of 
operations. The directions are always clear, though sometimes the diction might 
have been better if more carefully considered or corrected. 
The illustrations are entirely photographic, and whilst some of them are very 
effective, it would have helped the artistic value of the work if other than those 
of the camera and “ process” had found place in its pages. The book should be 
a popular possession amongst gardeners and rose growers, and should be found 
side by side with The Rose GarJen, by William Paul, and A Book of the Rose, by 
Dean Hole, of whom Mr. Melliar is evidently an ardent admirer. 
Edmu.nd J. Baillie. 
SHORT NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
Messrs. Blackie and Sox have a<lded the Natural History of Selhorne \o 
their cheap and excellent “ School and Home Library,” thus, it may be hoped, 
introducing it to a new circle of readers. W’e think, however, that it is to be 
regretted that the publishers have not introduced some illustrations, and the 
omission of an index is a serious drawback — there is not even a table of contents. 
As it is, the boy who wants to read about some particular bird or beast can only 
find it by turning over the pages, and it is hardly reasonable to expect him to 
take this trouble. The short introduction might well have been more attractive, 
and the insertion of footnotes, giving the generally accepted names of plants, 
birds, &c., and certain other particulars illustrating the text, would have been a 
further improvement. We are glad to welcome any new edition of Selborue, but 
we think in this case the publishers should have studied more carefully the tastes 
and nece.ssities of their clientele. 
