equally impossible. The scale of operations and results following are wonderful, as showing the amount of imagination often found at the end of a spade handle, or following the plow tail. Amateurs are glibly told of successions of crops that would require a very considerable lengthening of the year to make time for harvesting alone. In fact, it is all harvest time with these people. The attempted sarcasm of writers upon "city people in the country," and hits at their sweet and blissful innocence of ideas upon the simplest subjects connected with rural life, are so far outdone by these professional gardeners as scarcely to raise a smile-even pass for gospel with some, like the veritable history of scenes in the burning of Barnum's Museum, by the funny man at the Tribune. Were he to live a thousand years, Curtis would give us no more Potiphar Papers-so completely is his satire (unconsciously) eclipsed by these learned twaddlers.

Mr. Henderson's book is of a different stamp. He claims to know what he writes of by practice, and his success vindicates the claim. The basis of his knowledge and the spirit in which he writes are evidenced by his own language. "I have some pride, under present circumstances, in saying that I have had a working experience in all departments of gardening from my earliest boyhood, and even to-day am far more at home in its manual operations than its literature." The success which he claims to have met with is as well established as the standing of any of our regular city business firms. And, spite of his self-depreciation as a writer, the book is a model of clear, concise direction-detail, however, is not sacrificed to conciseness. Beginning with the amount of capital required, which is larger than most people suppose not less than $300 per acre-he remorselessly expends all of it the first year on the place, but it is so expended as to remain in the place. The working force per acre is considered,-with situation, laying out the soil and its preparation, drainage, manures, how to make and keep them,-a science in itself-farm implements, conveniences and fixtures, seeds, and planting crops, their management and rotation.

There is seemingly nothing omitted, even to the matter of temperature. It might well be taken for a revision of the "Boss's" every day journal. Protective measures as to insects occupy a chapter, and the narrative of his practice explodes some hum-bug theories. There is a sufficient list of plants and their varieties, early and late, and the methods of propagation are fully explained. If there be any thing likely to mislead, it is the calculated profit of this business-all, even though equally faithful, cannot expect to achieve what Mr. Henderson has done; but we do believe there is a large field of highly profitable labor unemployed, and that there is money in supplying the denizens of our large cities with garden-stuff. The essentials stated here are: liberality at the outset in money, labor, implements, and fertilizers, and constancy ever after. But is it not so in all occupations? Is there any other pursuit more sure

than agriculture, any other mother so uniformly and certainly indulgent and liberal in return for our pains as nature ?

The Grape Culturist,* published by the same house, is also a practical book written by a practical man, in an easy, simple style, with few of the confusing scientific terms common to such works. Propagation, growth from seeds, propagation from single buds, cuttings, &c., are treated and discussed pro and con., as also grafting and crossing. The matters of soil and fertilizers elicit their share of attention, and the directions on these subjects are very careful and minute. Upon the disputed question of the times for pruning and the various modes of training our author is quite elaborate, and takes issue with some high authorities, giving his reasons therefor with considerable positiveness. His plans are some of them novel, at least to those not conversant with foreign works. Horizontal training, or the nearest approach to it, is the system giving the best results, according to his experience. The matter of "thinning the fruit," ripening and gathering the same, is worthy particular notice. Our author appends a list, with his opinion of the merits of the varieties, with their nativity, and adaptation to locality, &c. The book is written in the interest of American versus European grape, and, in view of the almost universal failure of the latter here, may be regarded on this point as conclusive. It commends itself, in its subject at least, to the vine-growers of this State, which has peculiar advantages in soil, climate, and season.

St. Martin's Summert is one of those books that are extremely hard to classify. It can scarcely be called a novel, although the thread of a story runs through it; nor an art-essay, though there is hardly a page but contains some allusion to music, or sculpture, or painting; nor a volume of travels, although it is replete with the results of travel. The authoress is evidently a woman of profound culture, of apt and admirable intuition, of rare enthusiasm, of broad and hearty sympathy with nature, and with that which is only a prolongation and the fullness of nature-perfect art. A party of friends, who have bound themselves to each other by intimate and peculiar ties, wander, at the bidding of their fancy, through Switzerland, Northern Italy, Florence, Naples, halting leisurely here and there, studying the magnificent scenery, lingering by old ruins, haunting picture galleries, cathedrals, and palaces incrusted with moss and romance, moving always as if in dream, and forcing the reader, by a strange yet delicious spell, into following them wheresoever they list. Not, indeed, that the book is adapted to please everybody. People who hate music had better beware of it. They will find it a delusion and a snare. Those also who seek for flaming plots of the Braddon order will fling it aside not unwisely. But, given a person of artist tastes, of cultured mind-one, in short, of the class that admire "Charles Auchester,"

THE GRAPE CULTURIST (Fuller).

+ ST. MARTIN'S SUMMER, by Anne H. M. Brewster. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. 1866.

"Counterparts," and kindred works which now occupy a special place in English literature-and St. Martin's Summer will at once have found a passionate admirer. In fact, it is only for such that the book was written, and this ought to be sacredly kept in view by the critic.

For the audience which Miss Brewster seeks, we are compelled to say, that she has achieved an unusual success. There is a perpetual feast of old legends, old customs and ceremonies, described with singular clearness and accuracy of detail. The landscape sketches are sometimes splendid bits of word-painting, as for instance in the ride back from Vesuvius, where the evening sky is described in a manner not, unworthy of Ruskin. It is, however, in her musical analysis that the authoress peculiarly excels. She has a wonderful faculty for seizing upon the spiritual sense of music, and skillfully revealing it in words. Opinion may differ in regard to the justice of her mode of ranking the great composers; but it is palpable that she comprehends their genius more entirely than is usual even with writers who have made this a special science.

It had been our intention to illustrate and fortify our judgment by a few extracts, but space fails us. We cannot close, however, without expressing the wish, that since Miss Brewster has already created for herself a widening circle of admirers, she may be induced to once more resume her pen. The sin of American writers is, that they too speedily put aside authorship; and, for the sake of this her native State, we trust that this fault will not be chargeable to the authoress of St. Martin's Summer.

In Trust; or, Dr. Bertrand's Household,* is a very charming domestic story, full of movement, unflagging in interest, and wonderfully natural, both with reference to characterization and the dialogue. We confess that had there been more of local coloring it would have pleased us better. Orange and Newark, in this State, are selected as the stage for all the important events recorded; but, with the exception of one or two pen dashes, there is hardly any thing in the description that savors of the soil. Very possibly abundant reasons may be forthcoming to explain the deficiency; and we are well aware that the vast majority of native novelists are open to a similar criticism. But there is no real ground or occasion for this timidity, and in England the most notable feature of the modern novel is its faithfulness to local peculiarities and scenery.

Apart from this objection, the book exceedingly pleases us. Dr. Bertrand is a true hero, and though the authoress paints his virtues with womanly exaggeration, his character admits of it, and the part he plays is perhaps not less natural than it is unusual and intrinsically noble. Great keenness of perception is shown in the portrayal of the coquette Ada and the wayward but kindly Lily. Indeed, the analysis of Lily is as subtle and fine as is Mrs. Gaskell's Cynthia, in Wives and Daughters. Ulric Auchester is a superb study. The whole melodrama of his love for Lily is * IN TRUST; OR, DR. BERTRAND'S HOUSEHOLD, by Amanda M. Douglass. Boston: Lee & Shepard. 1866. M. R. Dennis & Co., Newark,

admirably told, and the temporary hallucination which he labors under in regard to Daisy is precisely what is constantly exhibiting itself in real life. Daisy, by the way, whom Robert deceives and Robert's brother Richard afterwards marries, is a beautiful creation; although not a few will object to the matrimonial sequel.

The conversation in this novel is one of its best elements. There is no constraint or stiltedness. All is easy, natural, idiomatic, precisely as people talk in their everyday affairs. The fact that Miss Douglass, like Miss Brewster, is a Jersey woman, is something about which it might be unseemly to boast, but of which, in view of what they have done, there is at least no cause for shame.

The authoress of John Halifax scarcely deserves the place allotted her by some of her critics; but there is no doubt that she aims to produce healthy results from her writings, and in no measured degree has succeeded.

A Noble Life was especially beautiful in treatment, and her triumph was all the greater, inasmuch as there were disagreeable features in the subject she had in hand. The Two Marriages,* which is her latest work, is not less good. Its purpose is plain. By the portrayal of the evil arising from home tyranny and paternal harshness toward a child, and by presenting an opposite picture of love and pity even for the erring, a great moral lesson is taught; and yet the intention is so subtlely conoealed that one accepts the deduction almost unconsciously. There are in fact, two distinct stories. "John Bowerbank's Wife" illustrates the inevitable consequences of worldliness in certain conditions and perplexities of life. "Parson Garland's Daughter" shows how a terrible misfortune and sin may have its cruellest sting rendered harmless by sympathy, and loving gentleness. As the title suggests, the marriage problem is the basis of the novel; and although the plots introduce the darker phases of the question, Miss Mulock, or, as we should more properly say, Mrs. Craik, is so judicious and delicate in her mode of approaching the discussion that the influence of the book is wholesome and hallowing. The volume is printed with wide margin, and plenty of space between the chapters, so that it is a luxury to read it. The binding also is superb, making it a rich addition to the library shelf, or the drawing-room table.

In point of typographical excellence, however, the book just mentioned is surpassed by the Harper edition of Victor Hugo's Toilers of the Sea.t We had intended to consider this much criticised novel in extenso, but the publishers have been so generous in their favors that it will be impossible to indulge ourselves. No writer in this century approaches the author of Les Miserables in absolute literary power. None has probed *Two MARRIAGES, by the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman." New York: Harper & Brothers, 1867.

THE TOILERS OF THE SEA, by Victor Hugo. Illustrated by Doré. New York: Harper & Brothers.

more deeply; none has so wonderfully combined the broadest scholarship with splendid native genius. His greatest work-that which preceded the one before us-has failed to secure due appreciation simply from the very immensity of its power. Partly also, the actual magnitude of the book, in respect to mere pages, has had its influence, and now-a-days there is so much reading to be done that few persons care to retrace their steps, and study anew what has been once "finished up." Perhaps in the case of Toilers of the Sea, in its present sumptuous form, this absurd habit of the modern novel reader may be broken in upon. It certainly should be. Victor Hugo, though employing prose, is essentially epic in his manner, and whatsoever he writes ought to be read and re-read, if we would hope to grasp his meaning in its entirety.

Infinitely lower in the scale, but of its kind excellent, is Trollope's Claverings.* The last novel of this author that we happened to read previously was Dr. Thorne, and, in contrast to the dreary stupidities and sleepiness of that volume, The Claverings sparkles with genius. Of course, as was inevitable, all the characters are everyday people. They talk the average talk, think the average thoughts, and are happy or miserable after a very humdrum manner. Captain Boodle, however, is worked up with no little humor. Lady Dumbello, though much out of sight, is a very possible character. The curate Saul is a signal improvement upon the ordinary Trollope clergyman. Probably this is the most popular work of the author; and in a circulating library, and profit and loss point of view, that is an important item. But why it should have attained such currency is one of those profound mysteries that never get solved, possibly because the work of solution is a game not worth the candle. As before said, however, it is decidedly excellent, considering that it is Trollope's.

Concerning the Memorials of Great Lawyers, there is no room for doubt. Its author has prepared a volume in which the early lives of Sir Thomas More, Sir Edward Coke, Matthew Hale, Blackstone, Lord Eldon, Erskine, &c., are treated in a juvenile manner, for the edification of British and American children. Nothing could be more absurd. It suggests the Comic History of England. It is as if Abbott, resting from his labors of whitewashing Napoleon III., should give us the early lives of the Presidents, as a lesson to American youth whereby they in their turn may be able to become residents at the White House, and play the role of Chief Executive. We are unfortunately unable at the present time to discuss the imbecility of this system of pouring the milk of knowledge out to babes, from lack of space; but on some future occasion we purpose to return to the subject. Now we must simply content ourselves with registering a general disapproval not only of this book, but of the

*THE CLAVERINGS, a Novel, by A. Trollope. Harper & Brothers.

+MEMORIALS OF the Early LiVES AND DOINGS of Great LawYEES, by C. L. Brightwell. London: T. Nelson & Sons, 1866,