Abstract
(1) As we all know, the love of flowers is with nearly every child almost a passion; there was no need of a book to create or develop that. The object of the authors of this work has been rather to teach children to take an interest in the methods of cultivation, and, by pictures, to broaden their knowledge of hardy plants in general. To write down to the child's mind on such a subject as gardening is no easy task, but if we imagine the authors' audience to be limited to children who have reached their teens, we think they may be congratulated on having accomplished it very well. They give sound cultural directions couched in simple, direct language without putting on the omniscient, patronising air that so many authors of serious children's books think it essential to assume. There are thirty-two coloured plates, some of which are very good considering the price of the work; others are decidedly painful—to the adult eye at any rate. But, after all, the best critic of the book is an intelligent member of the particular audience to whom it is addressed. We put our copy into the hands of such a one during the recent holidays, and his opinion, expressed in vigorous schoolboy idiom, was, when translated, found to be distinctly favourable.
(1) Gardens shown to the Children.
By Janet H. Kelman Olive Allen. Described by J. A. Henderson. Pp. xii + 100 + 32 coloured plates. (London and Edinburgh: T. C. and E. C. Jack, n.d.) Price 2s. 6d. net. (Shown to the Children series.)
(2) Roses.
By H. R. Darlington. Pp. xiii + 193 + 8 coloured plates. (London and Edinburgh: T. C. and E. C. Jack, n.d.) Price, double vol., 2s. 6d. net. (Present-day Gardening series.)
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(1) Gardens shown to the Children (2) Roses . Nature 88, 444 (1912). https://doi.org/10.1038/088444b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/088444b0