21 AUGUST 1926, Page 24

GARDENS FORTOWN AND SUBURB. By V. N. Sully. (Henn. 15s.)—AiMr:Solly

tells us in his preface, Gardens for Town and Suburb is not a " handyguide to horticulture," but a book of sympathetic advice, based on knowledge gleaned from practical experiment and observation, for those whose gardens are in town. Not only are suggestions offered for the design of gardens, emphasizing the fact that the front of a garden at any rate ,should be a frame for the house, but lists are given of plants and shrubs which are suitable for town and suburban gardens. The only suggestion in this very helpful and attractive book which the reviewer dares to question is that privet is a graceful and useful bush. It is generally found to suck up all the nourishment near it and has a peculiarly unpleasant smell. There are many excellent plates of small town gardens which show what endless possi- bilities there are in the making of even the smallest garden.