110 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
July, 
all the genera, and the majority of the species 
described in the book; the subjects are treated as 
piotures, the entire plant being shown, though much 
reduced in size—an arrangement, which in some 
cases is misleading, though it perhaps best fits in 
with the plan of a popular table volume. The exe¬ 
cution of the plates is very good, and Mr. Blair may 
be complimented on his general success, as it is not 
always easy, especially in small figures, to catch the 
peculiar characteristics of every species. 
As regards classification, Mr. Britten, whose work 
has been carefully and judiciously done, has adopted 
a middle course, having admitted some genera and 
species, which are not permitted a separate existence 
in some of our fern publications, as for example the 
genera Athyrium, Polystichum, and Lastrea, and the 
species Lastrea cristata, spinulosa, dilatata, and 
Simula. Taken altogether, we have here a very 
elegant and pleasing volume, in which the European 
Ferns are depicted and described in a trustworthy 
manner. We note a few slips, as for example where 
the plates are lettered “Aspidium” and “Nephro- 
dium,” neither of which generic names are adopted 
in the text, where the plants are ranged under 
Lastrea; hut this is a small blemish which can easily 
be put right when the work is reprinted, as no doubt 
will soon be requisite. 
The Botanical Atlas, by D. M" Alpine, F.C.S. 
Edinburgh and London : W. & A. K. Johnston. 
This is a series of folio plates, intended to form a 
guide to the practical study of plants, and containing 
representations of the leading forms of plant life. 
The first of thirteen parts, each to contain four plates, 
of which the Atlas is to consist, is now before us, and 
gives a favourable impression as to the utility of the 
work when completed. One plate is devoted to the 
Chickw'eed, the Maiden Pink, and the Campion, 
several figures of each being given, and described 
both on the plate itself, and more fully in the page 
of text printed to accompany it. Another plate 
supplies similar details of the Fumitory and Wall¬ 
flower ; another of the Herb Robert or Geranium ; 
another of the White Dead Nettle and the Sage. 
Both figures and descriptions are carefully executed, 
so that the Atlas will he particularly useful in help¬ 
ing the student, by showing him how to set to work 
when examining and dissecting plants, and thus 
enabling him with comfort to extend the field of his 
inquiries. It is to he issued in monthly parts. 
Decas Plantarum Novarum, auctoribus E. E. 
a. Trautvetter, E. L. Regel, C. J. Maximowicz, K. 
J. Winkler. Petropoli, 1882. A description of 
ten new plants, dedicated by the authors to Mr. C. 
Renard. The plants include a new genus of Umbel- 
lifers, Renarda, Regel, allied to Pleurospermum, in 
which the umbels are without an involucre, but fur¬ 
nished with a radiate white involucel larger than the 
flowers and resembling a terminal white blossom 
nearly an inch across. The other plants described 
are— Geranium Renardi, Trautv., Senecio Renardi, 
C. Winkler, Gentiana Renardi, Regel, Acantholimon 
Fetiscnui, Regel, Statice arbuscela , Max., Fritellaria 
asuriensis, Max., F. Przeivalski , Max., Allium 
Grimmi , Regel, and MetanartTieicium foliatum. Max. 
The Hardy Fruit Book, vol. II., by D. T. 
Fish. London : L. Upcott Gill. We have here a 
continuation of Mr. Fish’s treatises on Hardy Fruit 
culture, the practical character of which are assured 
by their authorship. The present volume of some 
300 pages, contains the Apricot, Cherry, Chestnut, 
Currant, Fig, Filbert, Gooseberry, Medlar, Mulberry, 
Plum, Quince, Raspberry, Strawberry, and Walnut. 
Some of the illustrations might be improved, but the 
cultural information is copious and reliable. 
Vegetable Culture for Amateurs, by W. 
J. May. London : L. Upcott Gill. The contents 
of this useful pamphlet are ranged under the heads 
of Root crops, Green crops, Salads, Herbs, Fruiting 
Vegetables, as Cucumber, Egg plant, Tomato, &c. 
There are also chapters on Forcing, Quantities of 
Seeds, Storing, Diary of Work. The information 
given is concise, and likely to be useful to amateurs 
who like to amuse themselves in their gardens. 
L’Illustbation Horticole (5 liv.) contains 
figures of Araucaria Miilleri , A. Brongn. and Gris, 
[t. 449], a New Caledonian species, with spreading 
branches, clothed with ovate imbricated leaves, and 
one of the most elegant of the group.—Compagnie Con¬ 
tinental d’Horticulture. Spathiphyllum hybridum, 
N. E. Brown [t. 450], an elegant hybrid between 
S. Dechardi and S. Patini, the green leaves broadly- 
lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, and the white spathes 
lanceolate acuminate.—Comp. Cont. d’Horticulture. 
Kentiopsis Luciani, Lind. [t. 451], an elegant green¬ 
house palm of the Kentiopsis group, remarkable for 
its large bright green pinnate fronds in the way 
of K. Lindeni; New Caledonia.—Comp. Cont. 
d’Horticulture. There is also a good woodcut figure 
of Mr. Bull’s Adiantum aneitense. 
Revue Horticole (June 1 —16) figures Croton 
musaicus, Ilort. Chantrier (p. 240), a beautiful hybrid 
with large oblong-lanceolate leaves, with a crimson 
midrib and veins, and green marginal blotches, 
bordered with yellow at first, the yellow changing 
with age to crimson, when the colouring is very 
brilliant; one of the best Crotons yet raised.—MM. 
Chantrier. Grape Barbarossa with cottony leaves 
(p. 264), one of three Italian varieties bearing this 
name, the present one producing ovate shouldered 
bunches of smallish round reddish-brown berries, 
d’un beau rose legerement-pruineux,” with a sugary 
juice without special flavour. 
Revue de l’Horticulture Belge (June) has 
a plate of Luculia gratissima, which is not bright 
enough in colour; also of Kcempferia Gilberti, one 
of Mr. Bull’s novelties from India. 
Bulletin d’Arboriculture, &c. (May) figures 
four varieties of Gooseberries:—Plunder (Wood), a 
smooth green; Speedwell (Poulson), a hairy red; 
Rover (Brotherton), smooth deep red; and Ringer 
(Chippendale), a smooth yellow—all of good quality. 
The Garden (May 13—June 17) gives coloured 
figures of Salvias (pi. 336), including S. Bethelii, 
S. leucantha, S. splendens Bruanti , i S', splendens M. 
Issanchou, S. caealicefolia , all useful winter-flowering 
kinds. Cattleya gigas (pi. 337), a fine form from 
Ashgrove, Pont-y-pool. Campanula Allioni (pi. 338), 
a dwarf species from the European Alps, forming 
close, dwarf tufts, with numerous large erect purple 
bell-shaped flowers. Odontoglossum hebraicum (pi. 
339), a peculiarly marked Odontoglot. Brodicea laxa 
(pi. 340), a beautiful hardy North American bulb, of 
which five varieties are depicted. Iris Kcempferi 
(pi. 341) represents a light and a dark coloured 
variety of this fine Japanese Iris. 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
— jUflR. Westland, of Witley Court, states, 
that in his locality the state of the Hardy 
Fruit Crops, is, at the present time, very dis¬ 
couraging. “ In so far as Apples, Cherries, Pears, and 
Plums are concerned,” he writes, “ I have never 
seen a worse crop; and a more unsatisfactory state 
of health in the trees it is not possible to conceive, 
the attack of blight and fly being so overpowering 
and virulent as to entirely arrest growth, causing the 
trees to present a lamentably seared and weather¬ 
beaten aspect. The Plums in particular are most 
seriously affected, the leaves being crumpled up, and 
falling off in heaps, while many of the branches 
are perfectly dead. Without a speedy change to 
