New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-20
NATURE BOOKS.
STUDIES IN GARDENS AND IN THE FIELD

THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. A
ComPrehensiye Work for Every 10, Lover r., OF the
Life library. Imperial Octave PIP X, $40.
Doubleday. Page Co.
THE BOOK OF GARDENING. A Handbook of
Horticulture. By Various Authors Edited by
W os d DPu[y n9st5sted or 0etayo PIP viii
cYcLoPEDIA OF AMERICAN .HoRTICULT-
OF Horticultural Plants Description Of the Spe-
Plants Cultivated in the United States and
Canada, Together with Geographical and Bio
Wilhelm Miller illustrated with over two We
thousand original engravings. In four vol
umes. Volume II. pp. xiv, 1854. The Macmil-
Ian Company.
HOW TO KNOW THE WILD FLOWERS. A
Guide to Names, Haunts and Habits of Our
Dana Illustrated by. Marion satterlee and
sons w. '-O'''
To say Of modern nature books" that they
are as numerous as the sands Of the sea is to be,
perhaps, on the safe side Of hyperboe. They
come necessarily from the press in every form,
big and little simple and luxurious emotional
and scientific valuable and worthless. What is
It possible to say Of the latest IN the series ex
cept, in a word, that 1t is good or bad? In
Vulnerable writers go over the same field, each
presenting materials that ought now to be ia
1niiar TO every one, in new light If they can.
Sometimes they accomplish their purpose
through the force Of their own literary gifts
but even the cleverest in the great company
leans on his illustrations for much of his effect
When both text and picture have uncommon
charm the reader enjoys sensation of delight
and the author gains as much conspicuity as can
be hoped for in a sphere of such abundant COM
petition THE Century Book Of Gardening" is one
Of the books that take honorable rank. 1t is a
large and stately volume to which many special
lists have contributed, under the general editor
ship Of Mr. Z. T. Cook We call the writer's
specialists because they their subjects with
obvious authority. bringing the smallest details
clearly to the surface. But all of Them begin
ming with Mrs Earl. whose POT Pourri from a
Surrey Garden" has shown with what skill and
feeling she can write of flowers, take pains TO
make their pages Ineligible. The book treats
Of everything that the lover Of gardening could
possibly want to know. each essay is followed
by an alphabetical list Of the flowers shrubs or
trees discussed therein, and scattered through
the volume with a lavish hand are illustrations
Of extraordinary beauty. In order that these
illustrations which printed by the half tone
process. may invariably be practical as they
are artistic, only the crispest and most vivid
photographs have been used The calendared
paper throws out these pictures in wonderfully
clear relief, and although one has to reckon
with q glossiness of surface that is ALWAYS
rather trying TO the eyes. one has only to hold
tfe page IN a proper light for the sheen to dis
appear and FOR the subjects TO exhibit them
selves in all their glory. There can be no doubt
as 10 what should be said OF this volume; il is
unfsiIingly instructive and IN the mere illustra-
ton OF the loneliness Of nature one of the most
enchanting books ever issued Our only regret is
that for production SO disnifed and of such