This is a down-to-earth and up-to-date guide, which fully lives up to its title. As the Vice Principal of Merrist Wood Agricultural College states in his brief foreword, the forty chapters have been carefully selected to cover all aspects of nursery stock production, save kitchen vegetables. They are helpfully grouped into seven parts: nursery planning, stock-plant management, propagation systems, container growing, field production, specialized production systems, and efficient working. The authors never forget that they are in business, from the selection of the location as it relates to population density and garden size, access to roads for regular retail trade, and through to wholesale and retail marketing. Indeed, their last words are "the most important part of his business - selling!". When choosing the land (discussed in part one) we should learn all we can about its previous cropping history, taking detailed soil profiles. Aspect and altitude are also important factors. Help in nursery planning can come from Government advisory services. In part two we are reminded of the importance of stock-plant management and the value of indelible labelling of individual source plants in selection and improvement. In this section, and throughout the book we are shown the value of having a detailed calendar of operations, with copies made available to all operatives. The major part of the book concerns propagation systems. The aim should be to produce high quality plants, concentrating on a few lines in steady demand. A nursery should be run at full capacity all the year round, as "empty space wastes facilities". Many points of interest are detailed in dealing with cuttings and layers. We are reminded of the practical value, particularly to the small nursery, of the double-glazed frames so well known in the Netherlands. The heated cutting bin, under continuing development at East Malling, is commended for its value for the production of an ever widening range of woody ornamentals. In dealing with grafting the authors have had to cope with a very wide range of information. Their occasional sweeping generalities may arouse some doubts and queries and there may even be a modicum of contradictions. An example is the statement that the rootstock Myrobalan B is unsuitable for damsons; in fact it is excellent for both damsons and bullaces. In describing double-shield budding only the Nicolin technique is given, yet the simpler East Malling method, of somewhat earlier date, is not mentioned. The ancient method of chip-budding, recently brought into large scale use following detailed research, is mistakenly reported to have originated in Japan whereas the basic technique was in use in Western Europe in the sixteenth century, or earlier. Future trends in propagation are mentioned, including tissue culture, embryo propagation and nutrient film technique. Container growing systems are well covered, the many types of media, plastic, fibrous and block, being clearly enumerated. The authors stress the importance of protection for young stock against cold, and equally important, against cold winds. Plastic-netting tunnels are ideal, white preferably for maximum winter light. All types of intimate shelter need the protection of shelter belts or slat fencing. The authors are alert to the time and financial factors involved. Field production of long-term crops must start with clean soil. The financial investment necessary for containerized tree production is that of a large scale project. There are five chapters dealing with specialized production systems: alpines and herbaceous plants, lime haters, aquatics, clematis, and soft and top fruits, presented as compact guides for the general nurseryman extending his normal business. In soft and top fruits the importance of Ministry of Agriculture Certification Schemes to business success is stressed. Finally, the part on efficient working contains useful advice on work organization, safety and marketing. The authors have reaped and gleaned worldwide, sieved and condensed. These instructors' notes are here made available to all. This excellent publication (available in hardback and paperback) will be well thumbed throughout the nursery trade. R. J. GARNER