BURRAGE ON VEGETABLES

Not a basic book on raising the best in vegetables, but a book that should give every practising gardener just the impetus- the know-how- that would lift his mediocre vegetable garden into a superior garden. Burrage, a layman who was not satisfied with less than the best, applied his engineering approach to sound management of the home garden. He discusses those factors he found indispensable, basing his findings on personal experimentation and conclusions. It took time and trouble to arrive at the best selection for his garden, his taste, but his results- as well as his methods- provide the signposts. He discusses (assuming experience as background) his making of a garden plan, the preparation of the ground in October, the plan for a three season garden, the best size to insure continuity through rotation and selection. He discusses determination- geographically- of what to plant and when. He then has an illuminating main section, taking alphabetically each vegetable, the rating, for his taste, the varieties that have proved best, the number of rows, distance apart, number of plants to let grow, and so on. The pests- and their treatment- are handled for each vegetable. He gives final chapters to greenhouses, hot frames, workshed, mulching (what, when, how); to garden equipment and gadgets; to humus and garden compost, to the keeping of records. A too brief chapter offers suggestions of adaptation of a larger program to the exigencies of week-end gardening. And some space is given to freezing and to preparing of vegetables. While this is a Massachusetts garden, there is much in it for any aspiring gardener. Presumably the photographs and diagrams will enhance the already great value of the text.