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Rating: 
Summary: Trip to garden of yesterday....
Review: THE AMERICAN GARDENER is one in a series of historical gardening books edited by Michael Pollin and published by the Modern Library of Gardening. Although William Cobbett's newly republished book was first printed in 1856, it contains many observations contemporary gardeners will find both salient and wise. AG is divided into several sections: laying out gardens, managing hot beds and green houses (which will be of interest to those living in cooler climates); and propagating and cultivating all sorts of plants. Cobbett includes annotated plant lists covering vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers extant in the Northeastern US in the 19th century. In addition to cultivation tips, he includes descriptions of potential plant uses such as eating hops as a side dish or making wine from grapes. Newer gardeners may find Cobbett's book challenging because it mostly lacks illustrations, contemporary nomenclature and/or Latin terminology. However, Cobbett humanizes plant cultivation and encourages the new gardener with sage advice such as foiling those `vegetable devils' dock and dandelion by eating them as greens. Although some of Cobbett's plant references are a bit archaic, such as `Clove' or `Cowslip', a good reference book informs the reader that the first is a type of Dianthus akin to the Carnation (sometimes called "Pinks") and the second may be what moderns call Pulmonaria. I have find Pollen's gardening series appealing because these `historical' books allow me step back in time and observe how "organic" gardening and gardeners carried on in earlier days. Cobett's book is set in 19th century America-the halcyon days before the onslaught of super bugs that gargle with DDT, ravaging diseases, and genetically modified Frankenstein plants brought to you by large agribusinesses that constantly battle with natural processes. William Cobbett understood that real gardeners respect Mother Nature.
Rating:
Summary: Trip to garden of yesterday....
Review: THE AMERICAN GARDENER is one in a series of historical gardening books edited by Michael Pollin and published by the Modern Library of Gardening. Although William Cobbett's newly republished book was first printed in 1856, it contains many observations contemporary gardeners will find both salient and wise. AG is divided into several sections: laying out gardens, managing hot beds and green houses (which will be of interest to those living in cooler climates); and propagating and cultivating all sorts of plants. Cobbett includes annotated plant lists covering vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers extant in the Northeastern US in the 19th century. In addition to cultivation tips, he includes descriptions of potential plant uses such as eating hops as a side dish or making wine from grapes. Newer gardeners may find Cobbett's book challenging because it mostly lacks illustrations, contemporary nomenclature and/or Latin terminology. However, Cobbett humanizes plant cultivation and encourages the new gardener with sage advice such as foiling those 'vegetable devils' dock and dandelion by eating them as greens. Although some of Cobbett's plant references are a bit archaic, such as 'Clove' or 'Cowslip', a good reference book informs the reader that the first is a type of Dianthus akin to the Carnation (sometimes called "Pinks") and the second may be what moderns call Pulmonaria. I have find Pollen's gardening series appealing because these 'historical' books allow me step back in time and observe how "organic" gardening and gardeners carried on in earlier days. Cobett's book is set in 19th century America-the halcyon days before the onslaught of super bugs that gargle with DDT, ravaging diseases, and genetically modified Frankenstein plants brought to you by large agribusinesses that constantly battle with natural processes. William Cobbett understood that real gardeners respect Mother Nature.
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