January 19, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
46 
Standard Dictionary” is one of the best. Useful and practical 
books on grammar and composition are “ Lennie’s English 
Grammar” and “Currie’s English Composition.” There are many 
other useful works on these subjects ; indeed, it would not be easy 
to go far wrong whatever work is selected. 
Botany is well furnished with exponents who endeavour from 
various pointi of view to inculcate the principles of the science to 
the student. Much elementary information can be gathered from 
Dr. Hooker’s primer on “ Botany,” or Professor Bentley’s similar 
primer on the same subject ; following the mastery of the contents 
of these by proceeding to the use of Professor Oliver’s “ Lessons in 
Elementary Botany,” which is recommended by Dr. Hooker 
himself, who says it goes over the same ground in more detail. 
A better little book than Professor Geikie’s primer on “ Geology ” 
could not be recommended as an elementary book on the subject. 
It is written in an interesting and simple manner, giving a very 
attractive garb to a science that ought to be more widely known 
among horticulturists. 
A knowledge of elementary chemistry is a valuable aid to a 
gardener, but it is not within the range of everyone to study it 
systematically, as being an experimental science it requires 
scientific apparatus and leisure. Acquaintance, however, can be 
made with the results gained by those who have studied the science 
in the interests of agriculture and horticulture and much informa¬ 
tion derived. Professor Johnston’s “ Catechism of Agricultural 
Chemistry,” edited by Professor Voelcker, will furnish the student 
with an interesting epitome of chemistry, or he can consult with 
much benefit Kane’s “ Elements of Chemistry.” Gill’s “Geometry” 
will teach all that is desirable or necessary for a gardener to know 
about that art. 
As a valuable reference book for ascertaining the correct 
nomenclature of plants, their genera, species and varieties, there 
is none to equal Johnson’s “ Gardeners’Dictionary ” as a cheap 
volume. As an exhaustive work on the same subject, though 
necessarily rather expensive, Nicholson’s “ Dictionary of Gar¬ 
dening” stands pre-eminent. Both these works are useful, far 
beyond the valuable help they give in the correct furnishing of 
the names of plants. Cassell’s “Popular Educator” is also a 
valuable library in itself, dealing with an exceptionally largj 
variety of subjects, and is consequently a most desirable work to 
possess. It gives a popnlar insight into a wide range of nseful 
knowledge, and being handy for reference affords a ready means of 
consultation. 
Plenty of literature is at hand dealing with practical gardening, 
and every detail of practice connected with it. Every phase of 
gardening is represented, and on the whole well. The works men¬ 
tioned previously—namely, Johnson’s and Nicholson’s Dictionaries 
—contain abundance of cultural information. Thompson’s “ Gar¬ 
dener’s Assistant ” has for many years been a standard book on 
gardening knowledge, and still remains a most valuable work. The 
principal organs of plants are treated upon in a plain and useful 
manner ; also the food of plants, and every detail in the manage¬ 
ment of a fully equipped gardening establishment. Such a book 
is a great help to obtaining an extensive knowledge of gardening, 
as in addition to the chapters on cultivation and management of 
crops in the open and nnder glass, full instructions are given on 
the use of every tool and instrument used in gardens. Another 
work less pretentious in character but yet very useful is Cassell’s 
Popular Gardening.” 
The preceding books being more of a general all-round 
character, there remains to be noticed now a few special works 
dealing exclusively with some particular subject. 'The first to be 
mentioned is a new and modern work entitled “ The Fruit 
Grower’s Guide,” by John Wright. It is the latest and best work 
published on fruit growing, and aims at recording and illustrating 
in a manner never attempted before all the necessary details con¬ 
nected with growing fruit under every possible condition of 
culture. Prominent mention is made of this work not only for its 
excellence, but because the impetus given to fruit growing of late 
years renders it absolutely necessary that every ambitious gardener 
should make himself as thoroughly informed as possible on a 
subject that bids fair to take a more decided and important position 
than it has hitherto done. 
As it would be impossible to mention all the works that deal 
specially with some particular phase of gardening, the following 
are indicated as desirable works to be in possession of—namely, 
“The English Flower Garden,” by W. Robinson; “The Vege¬ 
table Garden,” by A. Vilmorin ; “ Vines and Vine Culture,” by 
A. F. Barron ; “ The Orchid Growers’ Manual,” by B. S. Williams. 
Before concluding this part of the subject it is necessary to point 
out, to some at least, that in addition to studying gardening with 
the aid of the most reliable standard works of information, regular 
attention ought to Ite given to the careful psrusal of the contents 
of the horticultural Press, which, as a rule, gives a faithful reflex 
of the methods of good gardening generally, and interesting records 
of results obtained. The Prts®, too, affords a ready means of con- 
sultation to perplexed inquirers who desire information for helping 
them out of any difficulty that may arise. 
General Advantages. 
That the general advantages of a wide and intelligent education 
in the principles of good gardening are manifold everyone will 
admit, whether they have had the foresight and opportunity or not 
of securing them. “ Knowledge is power,’' and when combined 
with practical skill is doubly powerful. But theoretical knowledge 
alone is capable of conferring much benefit and pleasure upon the 
possessor. Take botany as an example. What endless vistas of 
knowledge are opened up by the simple study of the life history 
of a plant. Detail after detail, full of wonder and interest, crowds 
npon the observer as he carefully follows the process of develop¬ 
ment from the tiny seed to the perfect plant. Each process is a 
revelation, revealing more and more the beauties and wisdom of 
Nature. An interest in, and an incentive to, further study is 
FIG. 7. MR. E. D. SMITH. 
created. Armed wich this power of seeing, step by step, the 
gardener feels better equipped for entering upon the more complex 
fields of thought and study which open np before him. It is the 
proper understanding of principles which gives the greatest satis¬ 
faction, and the more time given to the grasping of these the better 
will the subject in hand be understood as advancement is made 
both in theory and practical skill. 
It may have seemed out of place to have recommended the 
perfecting of such simple subjects as spelling and writing, but then 
the advantages of such knowledge are seen when attempting to 
master higher things. Many a min is deterred from improving 
himself, even in the rudiments of his own profession, by the fact 
that this elementary part of his education is lamentably deficient, 
and he despairs of improving it, unfortunately seeing no advantage 
in doing so, consequently drifting into a kind of mental stagnation 
from which it is difficult to emerge. 
The general advantages of pursuing steadily some course of 
study are not confined solely to the henefi's accruing from the 
attainment of better technical and acquaintance with any 
particular subject, but also a wider effect is secured - namely, 
intellectual education, which gives fresh power to the under¬ 
standing, drills the memory, exercises the observing powers, and 
generally improves the student almost unconsciously. It becomes 
much easier for the gardener to work, when he knows at least 
approximately the science of the operations he is called upon to 
perform. There is a world of meaning in some of the simplest 
details of gardening which would be all the better for being 
thoroughly studied and their purport made clear. There is 
supreme advintage in possessing as much thorough knowledge as 
possible, if for no other reason than that of taking away some of 
