25 AUGUST 1906, Page 23

To the large and increasing library of books which are

intended to help the amateur horticulturist we have to add Roses and .171eir to Grow them (W. Heinemann, 2s. 6d. net), and Ferns and How to Grow them, by G. A. Woolson (same publisher and price). Betb books are of American origin, but probably will not be the less useful to the English amateur, if he uses his wits to make the necessary modifications. We see that the author of Roses estimates the total cost of a house 50 feet by 25, with heating apparatus (to keep up a temperature of 55 to 60 degrees in zero weather), at £800. This seems a high figure. The writer of this notice has had a house 40 feet by 12 (about a third of the area) constructed

for £75. But then it was built by home labour, the bricks, wood- work, glass, and heating apparatus being purchased. Has Free- trade anything to do with the difference?