This book by Lance Walheim and Robert L. Stebbins, is seductively attractive, with colourful illustrations and well-designed charts. It has already been favourably reviewed by D. N. Griffith (POMONA 15(2):99) and also referred to as an "excellent" book by J. Ozzello (POMONA 16(3):178). In a similar benevolent vein Roger D. Way (Fruit Varieties Journal 36(2):56) writes, "This is an excellent fruit and nut growing.... guide." The book can be borrowed from the NAFEX library. I wholeheartedly agree that it contains a wealth of information.

But it is also a disturbing case in the history of popularized North American fruit literature. As a bookseller specializing in horticulture I wish I had never heard of this book and I kick myself for accepting orders for it without first reading it. The late Milo Gibson often commented on the attitude of some professional pomologists who feel that amateurs (lovers) are by definition uncritical. Give them a nice book and they are not likely to doubt its competence. Some of my customers, unaware that it was written by professionals, complained. One of them asked for and got his money back, calling the book a "scissor and paste" job. He was most upset by a photograph of the Japanese plum "Queen Ann" on page 127 which was also used as a close-up illustration of the "Sprite" cherry plum.

A favourite target of often sarcastic comment was this statement on Page 78: "Most apple varieties will set adequate crops without cross-pollination from another variety." This is, indeed, disastrous advice to the novice and contrary to accepted fact. It sounds like a spoiled elaboration of Norman Childers dictum, "Most apple varieties will not set fruit by self-pollination". (Modern Fruit Science, 9th ed., 1983.)

Another incongruency commented upon refers to grapes. On page 144 we are informed that "American grapes are hardy to -10 degrees F (-21 degrees C)". Not only that, but the plant referred to is called "Vitus lambrusca"'(correctly: "Vitis Labrusca"). Hybrids are defined as "crosses" of popular grape varieties, a poor and misleading definition.

Two of the insects described on pages 37 and 38 belong in the realm of unicorns and dragons. Scientifically, "pear club borer" and "Aphinus melinus" don't exist. The latter is purported to be a parasite of citrus red mite. Myths usually contain some element of truth and the authors probably and vaguely remembered some citrus pest and its parasite but could not be bothered to identify it for the amateur reader. They would have discovered for their own and their readers' benefit that "Aonidiella aurantii," the citrus red scale is parasitized by "Aphytis melinus."

The apple enthusiast will be disappointed in various other ways. A number of old apple varieties are illustrated from A to Z but their descriptions stop with R. It happens to be the end of the page. The "Farm Verse" apple on page 86 is nowhere on record. Could it be a bungled version of "Fameuse?" Winter Banana orginated in Indiana, not in Europe where, admittedly, it is quite popular. A picture captioned "Smokehouse" is really that of the Black Gilliflower. The Mother apple hails from Bolton, not from Boston. Akane originated at the Fruit Research Station at Morioka, Japan; Tohoku is the breeding series in which Akane was Tohoku # 3 before being named.

And so it goes on. Serious errors for instance, the mix-up of pear-ripening seasons alternate with many minor slips such as "Mutzu", "Luthur Burbank" and "Trichogamma". Was no proof-reading done? I know nothing about the western fruits included in the book such as sapote, pistachio, jaboticaba or English walnuts. However from my perspective I must call this an unfortunate book. One can only imagine the furor had it been published for the scientific community! The concept of the book is attractive as is the powerful, colourful presentation and packaging. Ultimately however, it exemplifies the botching of fruit science in the interests of glamour publishing.