The gardening world 
June 13, 1903. 
512 
REVIEWS of BOOKS 
Review copies of Books pertaining to the Garden should be sent as early 
as possible to The Editor, “ G. W„” 37 and 38, Shoe Lane, London. 
The Natural History of Plants. 
“ The Natural History of Plants,” by Kerner and Oliver. 
Blackie and Son, Limited, London, Glasgow, Dublin. Part 9 ; 
price Is. 6d., net. 
Volume II. of this fine work is now in an advanced stage. 
The part under notice is chiefly devoted to the dispersion of 
pollen by wind and by animals, as well as the colours of flowers, 
their scent, and allurements which serve to attract animals. 
Those who have not read the history and peculiar method of 
fertilisation of the flowers of Vallisneria spiralis will find an 
account of it here, together with an illustration showing how 
the flowers are brought together by the agency of water. Amongst 
the plants which are fertilised by the agency of the wind the 
Conifers bulk largely, and it may give some idea of the prodi¬ 
gality of their production of pollen when we recall the fact that 
the pollen in country districts is often carried together in heaps 
during and after thunderstorms to such an extent that many 
stories have been told of showers of sulphur. In any case, the 
fine granular dust of which the pollen consists is so constructed 
that it is very light, and when released from the tree in the 
form of little clouds it floats about in the atmosphere for some 
considerable time, until everything within a good distance of 
the tree is dusted with the pollen. 
The illustrations continup to be numerous arid well executed. 
On one page are several flowers of Yucca Whipplei, and the 
moth which alone seems capable of fertilising such flowers. 
There are also numerous sections of the Fig and the insects 
which visit it and lay their eggs there, producing galls in the 
flowers, as well as effecting cross-fertilisation. Amongst flowers 
which attract animals by means of colour contrasts the Muscaris 
are mentioned and illustrated, along with the blue Cornflower, 
the singular-looking flower-spike of Lavandula Stoechas, and 
many others in which there is a marked contrast of colours. 
Towards the end of Part 9 some tables are given showing how 
long certain flowers continue in bloom, and also at what period 
of the day certain flowers open. This may interest those who 
have a desire to construct floral clocks by the planting of flowers 
that open at stated periods. The book is, in fact, a mine of 
information for many days’ reading. 
The Veitckian Nurseries. 
A short account of these nurseries has been made out by Mr. 
James Herbert Veitch, F.L.S., author of “A Traveller’s Notes.” 
The small book has been prepared for nrivate, circulation only, 
and gives portraits of various members of the family. Illus¬ 
trations are also given showing various parts of the houses 
and grounds in the several nurseries belonging to the firm. 
Some of the views taken rank as interesting pictures, particu¬ 
larly the views of the Coombe Wood Nursery, Kingston Hill, 
where the nursery itself is surrounded by the tall trees of 
Coombe Wood proper. The Water Lily pond and Bamboo gar¬ 
den in the Coombe Wood Nursery also form an interesting 
picture, if it had not been somewhat marred by the very tall 
labels employed, so that the names of the plants can be read 
from the banks. We quite understand, however, that the utili¬ 
tarian aspect of these labels is a very important one. 
The Langley Nursery is sufficiently important in itself, but 
lacks the picturesque aspect-of Coombe Wood, owing to the flat¬ 
ness of the land and the lack of trees. Here, again, utility 
is more important than the beauty of the scenery in the rearing 
of young plants under conditions suitable for their welfare. 
Views are also given of the nursery at Feltham, which is also 
on rich but flat land. 
The Handyman’s Book. 
“The Handyman’s Book of Tools, Materials, etc.” Edited 
by Paul N. Hasluck. Cassell and Co., Limited, London, Paris, 
New York, and Melbourne. Part 7 ; price 6d. 
Part 7 of this monthly publication is chiefly devoted to such 
accessories and ornaments of the garden as trellis-work, porches, 
and summer-houses. Many of these adjuncts of the garden 
may be considered as ornamental ; others, again, are useful, 
and some of them may be described as necessaries. The publi¬ 
cation seems chiefly intended for the instruction of workmen in 
this particular branch of art, as the various objects are freely 
represented by sections, plans, and the finished article. They 
may also be described as neatly-executed pen-and-ink drawings. 
We have no doubt that those of an artistic turn of mind, and 
desirous of beautifying their garden, could get many hints 
from its pages which they could turn to useful account in 
making rustic houses and seats for their own use, as well as 
ornamental fences, arches, and gateways that can be planted 
and covered with Roses and other climbers. Even the rustic 
dove-cot and the rustic garden flower-basket are not overlooked. 
Log huts or cabins are also illustrated, and their construction, 
but would rarely find a use in this country, though they might 
prove of some advantage to the forester at some 'distance from 
home. These drawings are very numerous, and certainly in¬ 
structive. 
English Arboricultural Society. 
“ Transactions of the English Arboricultural Society.” Yol. V., 
Part 7. Printed for the society, and sold by G. and T. Coward” 
9, Fisher Street, Carlisle, 1902-1903. Price 2s. 6d. 
This part of the transactions contains a report of the twenty- 
first annual general meeting, held in London, as well as a report 
of the summer meeting in France. An account of a presentation 
to Mr. John Davidson, J.P., Haydon-Bridge-on-Tyne, is also 
given on page 197, and his portrait faces page 198. Mr. David¬ 
son has been secretary and treasurer of the society since its 
foundation twenty-one years ago, and as he is the compiler of 
the transactions of the society, we have had occasion to mention 
his name in several past years. 
( During their visit to France the party visited the Foret dt 
Compiegne, in which many useful notes were taken relating t. 
the timber there. The forest seems to be utilised as a game- 
preserve for deer, rabbits, woodcock, and other game, as well 
as for forestry. Owing to this method of utilising the forest 
there is no underwood, and the ground beneath the Oaks is 
merely covered with grass, with very bad effect upon the trees 
themselves as far as the production of timber is concerned. 
A figure is, however, given showing a solitary tree that has been 
left as an example of what a timber tree should be like. French 
and English forestry are compared in their several aspects by 
Mr. A. C. Forbes. The party had the pleasure and instruction 
of inspecting the system of forestry, which is not represented 
to any great extent in Britain, so that the excursion had an 
educational value. The nearest approach to it in this country 
is seen in the Beech woods on the Chiltern Hills. 
The Literature of Gardening. 
Lnder the title of “ Floricultural and Horticultural Litera¬ 
ture,” the A. T. De La Mare Printing and Publishing Company, 
Limited, 2, Duane Street, New York, issues a pamphlet of 95 
pages, containing a list of books on all sorts of subjects per¬ 
taining to horticulture, pomology, botany, forestry, and kindred 
subjects. I nder the title of each book a short descriptive para¬ 
graph is given of the main features of each book respectively. 
As far as we observe, all the books are in the English language, 
so that they include books that may have been written by anyone 
in Great Britain or the British Colonies, and by the English- 
speaking peoples of America. Many rare and useful books are 
included, and some of these must necessarily be second-hand. 
Some of these books are difficult to obtain in this country, for 
the simple reason that our American cousins have been very 
active during recent years in laying hold of all valuable books, 
either new or second-hand, that may have come into the market-. 
That has necessarily made them scarce in this country, and 
raised the price. 
One and All Gardening. 
The above is the title of the journal of the Agricultural and 
Horticultural Association, Limited, 92, Long Acre, London, 
W.C. It is issued annually, price 2d. It contains a chapter 
on the “ Garden of Life,” by the editor, Mr. Edward Owen 
Greening, of whom a portrait is given. This chapter is very 
largely illustrated by pictures of various birds, most of which 
are well known either in the garden or about human dwellings. 
There are also some photographs of frogs, water-beetles, and 
the common yellow butterfly. Other chapters deal with the 
culture of Sweet Peas, fruit culture for small gardens, floral 
notes, and other subjects, most of which are well illustrated by 
photographs, those relating to the floral notes being interesting 
and appropriate. 
