cover image What Makes the Crops Rejoice: An Introduction to Gardening

What Makes the Crops Rejoice: An Introduction to Gardening

Robert Howard. Little Brown and Company, $0 (254pp) ISBN 978-0-316-37474-3

Writing in the first person, Howard presents an unusual mixture of subjects, not so much a detailed guide as a paean to nature and the art of gardening. He takes his title from the Georgics and, like Virgil, invites contemplation on the ways in which plant life progresses from seed to flowers and fruit. A seasoned and enthusiastic gardener, the author includes general advice on caring for plants throughout the year, and beginners and experienced gardeners alike should find the book extremely rewarding and its suggestions worth trying. Readers will also enjoy a tempting pesto recipe as well as Howard's biographical chapters, which pay homage to Frederick Law Olmsted, Gertrude Jekyll and other renowned gardeners synonymous with the need to protect and preserve Earth's living things. Appendices list suppliers of catalogues, seeds, tools and the like. Illustrations not seen by PW. (April)