410 
THE Q ARDEN I NO WORLD . 
May 14, 1904. 
Reviews of Books. 
The Calendar of Garden Operations. Enlarged edition, 
adapted to the requirements of cottage gardeners, allot¬ 
ment-holders and amateur gardeners. By members of the 
staff of “ The Gardeners’ Chronicle.” Published at “ The 
Gardeners’ Chronicle” office, 41, Wellington Street, 
Covent, Garden, London, 1904. Price Gd., post free 7Jd. 
Tlie above calendar is based on the original -work of the 
late Sir Joseph Paxton, M.P., and was first published in 1842. 
Since then it has gone through many editions, though still re¬ 
taining its size till recently. The present one seems as bulky 
as three or four of that published in 1895. The book runs 
to 152 pages, including an index as well as a list of illustra¬ 
tions. Several pages are left blank at the beginning of the 
book for memoranda. 
The first eighty pages are devoted to a calendar of garden 
operations, which run through the year from January to, Decem¬ 
ber. These pages are illustrated with vegetables and flowers 
represented by up-to-date varieties in place of those, we pre¬ 
sume, which were employed in the early days of its history, 
although we think that very few illustrations were used pret- 
vious to the present enlarged edition. It is unnecessary here 
to enter into detail with regard to garden operations, as the 
information here is reliable, and merely meant as reminders 
what to do and how to do it in the proper season. This will 
be especially valuable to the younger gardeners who have not, 
yet committed to memory all the details of the incessant garden 
operations that, require to be carried out diming the twelve- 
month. The directions, concerning fruit trees are illustrated 
by means, of woodcuts of young trees grown according to 
present-day methods. The training of Gooseberries in special 
forms, and grown in pots, is also well represented. Figures 
are also given of new, interesting, or standard varieties of 
Apple®, Plums, and other fruits. As evidence of the up-to-date 
character of the book, wei may mention an article on Sweet 
Peas, illustrated by a photograph showing how 'Sweet, Peas may 
be grown in the body of a, house on American principle® in 
order to get early flowers. The latter part of the book is 
taken up with articles on various subjects relating to the more 
popular classes, of plants ; also to manures, garden tools, insect 
pests, fungi, window-boxes, window gardening, plants for dwell¬ 
ing rooms, fruit cookery, etc. 
Cassell’s Popular Gardening. An illustrated cultural guide 
for amateur and professional gardeners. Edited by 
Walter P. Wright. With coloured plate;: and over 1,000 
illustrations. Cassell & Co., Ltd., London, Paris, New 
York, and 'Melbourne. 
A new edition of this work is now being brought out in about 
twenty-four fortnightly parts, price 7d. each, three of which 
have already appeared. The first number deals with a variety 
of subjects, including popular herbaceous plants, Boses and 
Rose gardens, the vegetable garden, greenhouse, conservatory 
and stove, flower garden and lawn, Chrysanthemums, florists,’ 
flowers, fruit, Alpine rock plants, window and room garden¬ 
ing, trees and shrubs, etc. There is certainly variety enough 
for a beginning in a work which runs to twenty-four parts, and 
the illustrations are veiy numerous. We particularly admire 
the photographic representation of Narcissus Ada,. Various 
other flowers are represented by the same means, including 
some, of the modern Potatos, which have been in everybody’s 
ears for many months past. The editor has also introduced 
many of the pen and ink drawings which he has employed to 
illustrate his other books on gardening. 
The first number contains a coloured plate of modern 
Gladioli, and the second one a coloured plate of Nymphaea, 
gigantea Hudsonii. This serve® to< illustrate a, chapter on 
aquatic plants, though other figures are given to show how 
Water Lilies may be planted in baskets, or otherwise estab¬ 
lished in ponds of ornamental water 1 . Hints on grafting are 
illustrated with woodcuts, and this is followed by a chapter 
on the flower garden, giving details of a varied character 
relating to the work which should be done at the present time,. 
Ferns come in for a share of attention in this number, as well 
as Roses, herbaceous plants, conservatory, building of glass¬ 
houses, and other subjects. 
Part 3 deals with bulbs, . Clematis, table decorations, fruit 
growing, and popular herbaceous plants again. Thus various 
phases of garden work are taken into consideration in succeed¬ 
ing numbers, all Of them being abundantly illustrated. 
The Lecture Agency Date Book, July to June, 1904 to 1905, 
and 1905 to, 1906. Price Is., post free Is. I'd. The 
Lecture Agency, Ltd., the Outer Temple, Strand, London 
W.C. 
The above is a pocket-book and diaiy for the dates men¬ 
tioned, and is especially compiled for the use of ministers, 
lecturers, public speakers, musicians, entertainers, secretaries 
of societies, and others who are obliged to make engagements 
a long time in advance. Pocket-books usually only run for 
one year, but it seems that it is necessary to make engagements 
and record the same for a, much longer period. The date- 
book, in fact, covers two years. It gives dates for Easter, 
feast days, and Bank Holidays in the United Kingdom. The 
first half of the book is taken up with the dates, extending over 
two years, and one line is left blank opposite each day. The 
latter portion of the book is left open for the taking of memo¬ 
randa. It ha,® morocco leather covers, and, being only G in. 
deep, 3 in. wide, and \ in. thick, it fits into the pocket, readily, 
and can be carried a,bout without inconvenience. 
Four Poets Narcissi, 
Now that many of these exquisite new Narcissus poeticus 
hybrids are getting moderate in price, noi garden in which 
those flowers are held in esteem can afford to be without them. 
Wherever N. poeticus ornatus will grow healthily there need 
not be much hesitation in planting these newer varieties. On 
very retentive soils they are not always happy, and on such 
soils they should be grown in raised beds in which some sand 
and leaf-soil has been incorporated with the natural soil. 
The following four varieties are doing well here, and can be 
most thoroughly recommended. 
Dante. —This came into flower with me on April 15th, and 
is a tall, elegant variety growing 22 in. in height. It is a 
lovely thing, apparently midway between. N. p. ornatus and 
N. p. poetarum, but qfiite surpassing either in size, as it is 
almost 34 in, in breadth. The petals are wide, of unusual 
substance, and great purity. At times) it bears two flowers 
on, a stem, and should be especially noted as a grand garden 
plant of dignified habit. It received a First-class Certificate 
from the R.H.S. Narcissus Committee on April 7th, 1896. 
Cassandra. —“A truly magnificent poeticus, which opened 
on April 21st. Although it, was given an Award of Merit hr 
the R.H.S. Narcissus Committee as long ago as 1899, very 
few of the more recent varieties surpass, it even now. All the 
poeticus varieties do' well on my soil, but this one seems espe¬ 
cially vigorous!—a, single bulb soon growing into quite a clump. 
I have just cut two flowers-and find that they are 3 in. across, 
with good strong stems! 19 in. long. The broad, overlapping, 
ovate segments are of splendid texture and great purity, while 
they are further set off by the deeply-rimmed cup, which is 
of a dark red, a, slightly lighter shade than in, N. p. grandi- 
florus. 
Homer is another lovely thing now in flower here'. In this 
the cup is flatter and larger than in N. p. ornatus, but, not so 
round and even. The cup-edge is very bright and of poetarum 
colour. The petals are broad, moderately overlapping and 
have a slight tendency to recurve. The size of the flower is 
21 in,, and the height 16 in. A good grower and free. 
Awarded a First-class Certificate by the R.H.S. Narcissus 
Committee in 1898. 
Chaucer.—In this 1 the petals are of ornatus character and 
do not overlap,; they also recurve rather much, which, to my 
mind, rather detracts from the beauty of the flower. Of 
course, the great charm of Chaucer lies in the large, flat, vivid 
red cup, which to some extent atones for the unevenness of its 
