Soft Fruit Growing for the Amateur - What to Plant, How to Prune and Manure, with a Chapter on Nuts, One on Mushrooms and Another on Composting

Fruit can be grown almost anywhere says Mr. Bush, "if you are prepared to take the trouble" . However, quite often the most intelligent and ardent gardener can go wrong simply because the trouble he takes is ill-directed. This book, first published in 1942 and since twice reprinted and revised, tries to guide the amateur in the growing of soft fruits. The subject is dealt with methodically the general questions of aspect, soil, nursery material and planting procedure are reviewed first. There follows a discussion of the specific cultural details associated with the various soft fruits. The range is wide. Besides the better known blackberries, loganberries, currants, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes and mushrooms, the less familiar figs, outdoor grapes, mulberries, cranberries, barberries, melons and passion fruit are included. Other matters are dealt with as well. The vagaries of temperature and climate, the use of the compost heap, the need for and practice of spraying are all separately and exactly explained. There is also a chapter on the pruning of cobs, a subject of which many horticulturalists fight shy. The perils and pitfalls which complicate the best laid plans of the most well-intentioned gardener are here averted. Contents Include: An Ounce of Practice Coming Down to Earth On Choosing Nursery Stock Planting Fruit Bushes Blackberries, Loganberries and Hybrids The Black Currant Red and White Currants The Fig Gooseberries Grapes out of Doors The Raspberry Strawberries The Tomato Some Oddments Nuts: Cob Nuts, Filberts and Walnuts Is Spraying Necessary? Mushrooms The Whys and Wherefores of Spring Frosts Manuring and Compost Heaps