GARDENING BOOKS.—The Century Book of Gardening. Edited by E. T.
Cook. (George Newnes. 18s. net.)—We cannot say more than that this volume, in appearance and quality, is worthy of its object. It combines beauty and utility. The illustrations are admirable ; it might be said that they move one to envy ; one can hardly help coveting these magnificent walks and terraces, the glories of such places as Ashtead and Belvoir, Cardover and Alton Towers,— this last being like a Turner picture turned into solid fact. On the other hand, it should be remembered that one is taught how to make the best of the humblest little plot. It is not only the terrarum domini who find pleasure in their gardens. Various experts write on their own subjects. Mrs. Earle, for instance, well-known as the author of " Pot-Pourri from a Surrey Garden," writes about " Shrub Borders and Hardy Flowers," Messrs. W. Paul and E. Mawby on "Roses," and Mr. Edwin Beckett on "The Culture of Vegetables." As to this last subject, it may be remarked that while gardeners are always on the look out for good varieties of flowers, they are sometimes content with inferior vegetables. The differences of flavour and fertility between a good sort and a bad are well worth consideration. There is a chapter on " Fruit Farming," which is full of interest. Here, especially, attention to the choice of the best varieties is of the first importance. There is no reason why, if this is given and more care is bestoived on pick- ing, packing, &c., English fruit should not expel its foreign rivals. The decisions given last year re the foreign fruit con- demned cannot fail to have an important influence on the trade. Soft fruit simply cannot be brought into this country in a sound condition during the hot weather. This article is, we gather, by Mr. Bunyard, of Maidstone, whose fruit-room in October is a eight to be seen.—Carnations and Picotees, by H. W. Weguelin (same publishers, 3s. 6d.), deals in expert fashion with one of the most attractive of the denizens of the garden. Except perhaps the rose, there is no flower that raises such enthusiasm as these. '‘ Carnation and Picotee Societies" exist in various places to testify to the hold which the pursuit of cultivating these lovely blooms has taken on the nation.—Lawns, by Sutton and Sons (Reading, is.), is, we think, a cheap reprint of a volume which, in its more sumptuous form, we noticed some week3 ago.
Previous page
