REVIEW

"The International Book of Trees"

Hugh Johnson may be familiar to some as a wine writer, his "World Atlas of Wine" being a well-known reference book for imbibers. He is based in Essex and travels widely, taking in all the major wine and tree growing parts of the world (which I presume coincide in many instances).

Trees, like wine, have been a lifelong passion of the writer - Johnson writes for the Royal Horticultural Society and founded the related quarterly The Plantsman (although this is no academic work and I would take this as background information on the author rather than a comment on his writing style and approach in this book). Johnson has produced a very impressive knowledge and set of opinions, which come through wonderfully in "The International Book of Trees." His description of the tree families are lively and I got a great sense of knowing and experiencing the trees from the text, and of Johnson's willingness to make strong opinions. I really like these: Johnson says of the carob tree, for example, that "...Because it is evergreen its eight-inch pods often escape notice. It merges into the background: short, gnarled, ageless-looking" (page 210). Of the Chilean Firebrush, a Eucalypt: "If there is a more spectacular tree than this in flower I have never seen it" (page 215). Exactly the passion that trees deserve.

Johnson also passes on related snippets which really are great fun. For example, the Latin root for Whitebeam trees is cerveza, which means beer and which once came from the berries of these trees (page 205). He also tells you that "Some of the earliest Chinese paper was made from the bark of the paper mulberry by soaking it, smoothing it and finishing it with rice paste.' (page 143). Not that comments are all related to the products of trees - "when all is sodden in the forest birch bark will burn" (page 164). There are also many specialist sections on topics as diverse as History of Tree Discovery, How to Plant Trees, and Pruning.

There are plenty of opinions for the gardener, too: for example of Pacific Cedars/Pines "In a tub...they look quite artificial" (page 117) and (of box) "It seems equally happy cropped down to a six-inch hedglet grilling by a pathway in the sun or reaching up in permanent gloom as the undergrowth of thick woods. Wherever it is its neat, almost round, yellow green leaves give it a satisfying texture" (page 223).

Although I don't think of this as a gardening book. It is more a passion-book, and I really like it. Size-wise, the edition I have does look coffee-table like, but one feels Johnson elected for this form out of love for the subject and a desire to show of a great repertoire of photos and diagrams. Totally 280 pages. Well and comprehensively written. The copy I bought cost about US$35.

Anyone who gets a rush of trees will get a rush of this book.

I would also recommend passing it to young who may be planting their first trees.