Shrubs And Trees

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29234, 18 June 1960, Page 3

Shrubs And Trees

Garden Shrubs and Trees. By S. G. Harrison. Eyre and Spottiswoode. 318 pp. Index.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is the home of plant science to horticulturists and botanists, while those who have been fortunate enough to go down to Kew in lilac time enjoy yet another aspect of the activities of Kew. Kew has a long history of expert publication on all aspects of plant studies, and this new book of the Kew Series “Garden Shrubs and Trees”, by S. G. Harrison, is in keeping with the best Kew tradition.

The text is primarily a selection from the trees and shrubs commonly grown in shrubberies and arboreta in Great Britain with emphasis on the botany of the plants rather than culture or propagation. This intentional emphasis on the botany of the trees arid shrubs is designed to assist those in need of information on the classical botany of the various groups and to act as a stepping stone to the larger works on horticulture. The book is very technical and it is doubtful whether the amateur will be rescued from all his difficulties despite an excellent 11-page section on “Structure,” a good glossary of scientific terms and adequate black and white illustrations of floral parts and leaf shapes. The key to the genera included in this book will be very difficult for anyone unfamiliar with the use of keys—it seems a pity that no general instruction in its use is given.

The text is pleasantly informative, arranged in modern botanical classification with descriptions of the species in the traditional manner. Anne Webster contributes 15 beautiful colour plates which have reproduced excellently,- while Ernest Petts has drawn 73 black and white illustrations.

A valuable book, more useful to the specialist, but containing much of use to those who want to go beyond the ordinary gardening book.