BOOK REVIEWS

The Complete Book of Bonsai
A practical guide to the art and cultivation of bonsai

Harry Tomlinson
Published by Dorling Kindersley
Distributed by Penguin
$NZ49.95
Reviewed by Mike Gowing

THIS is a new edition of a book first published in 1990 and which has been, judging by the number of reprints, extremely popular. It's not hard to see why. Harry Tomlinson's text is a comprehensive and clear step-by-step introduction to this Japanese horticultural art. As he puts it: "My aim is to provide a practical reference work of equal value to the beginner and the more experienced enthusiast." In this the book more than succeeds. There are clear, illustrated instructions on various styles, containers and tools, and importantly, pruning and wiring techniques. These chapters are backed by a thorough pictorial catalogue of the various species suitable for bonsai and a compendium outlining steps for the care of each.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH