From: pharvey@quack.sac.ca.us (Paul Harvey)
Subject: Re: Books!
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 06:06:25 GMT

In article <1992Oct15.170825.118791@watson.ibm.com> 
clarke@watson.ibm.com (Ed Clarke) writes:
>Ok, that does it!  One thing this group really needs is a review of some
>specific books.  Kay mentioned "Hortus Third" before; I bought it and it's
>wonderful.  I did a small review of "How to know the Hornworts and 
>Liverworts" a while ago but never posted it.  It'd sure be nice if people
>would post review of outstanding books (FAQ fodder?) ...

OK, so you bought Hortus Third, that's the standard hort reference for
North American Plants, available in most libraries, but I have to admit
that a home copy is nice. It is a BIG book and carries a steep retail
price of around a hundred dineros, if you look around at used books
stores you can probably find it a half off or more since there is no
shortage of these books out there. Now, what book to buy next? It's
gotta be:
Cornucopia, A Source Book of Edible Plants, Stephen Facciola, Kampong
Pubs, 1870 Sunrise Dr, Vista, CA, 92084, ISBN:0-9628087-0-9
That's assuming you're interested in edible plants beyond what's available
at your local market or seed rack. This book lists the plants by species
and cultivars and lists what is edible and how and lists the mail order
sources. It's packed with info, for example maple tree flowers are
edible and taste quite good, like brocolli and maple syrup. It has 1050
firms from the US and Canada and 150 "overseas" and 150 non-commercial
sources that if you beg from may send you something. This book does not
tell you how to grow, like zones, that is what Hortus is for or other
books. OK, next book:
Sunset New Western Garden Book, Lane Pub, Menlo Park, CA, 94025,
ISBN:0-376-03889-6
If you live in the Western US, you've gotta get this book, it's in many
hardware stores and garden centers. But, even if you don't live in the
west of the west, it's still useful, particularly if you'd like to grow
western plants. It's too bad no one else has done this type of thing to
other parts of the world. Sunset has divided the West into some 25 zones
or so and is a very good listing of plants and plant types and how to
grow. It puts the USDA zone system to shame. Alright, one more:
Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades, Steve Solomon's Complete Guide
to Natural Gardening, Sasquatch Books, Seattle, WA, ISBN:0-912365-20-X
OK, OK, I know another regional book, but sometimes these types of books
are the best. Obviously if you live in this region you have to get this
book, it's the BIG one. But, it's also a very useful, honest, no
nonsense guide to general organic gardening. Price about $15. Enjoy!
===

From: jwilson@chopin.udel.edu (James Wilson)
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1992 04:46:31 GMT

If I had to pick just one iris book, it would be this one:
_The World of Irises_, edited by Bee Warburton, asst. ed. Melba Hamblen,
published by The American Iris Society, 1978, 519 pages, 32 color
plates, 219 b/w photos, 46 illustrations, ISBN 0-9601242-1-7 
Does indeed cover the world (up to 1978), well-researched, good sections 
on bearded iris development. about $15

Another good one is _IRIS_, by Fritz Ko"hlein, Timber Press, 1987,
370 pages, 210 color photos, 48 line drawings, ISBN 0-88192-049-5.
Somewhat more European perspective and discusses and pictures some
species and varieties that are less commonly grown here. about $35

_The Louisiana Iris_, edited by Marie Caillet and Joseph K.
Mertzweiller, pub. by the Society for Louisiana Irises, 1988,
233 pages, 93 color photos, 23 b/w photos, 16 illus., ISBN
0-914641-09-3.  Beautiful and well-done book on the topic, maybe
the best of the iris specialty books. about $23

_The Japanese Iris_, edited by Currier McEwen for The Society for
Japanese Irises, 1990, similar and also very good. about $25

_Siberian Irises_, edited by Currier McEwen for The Society for 
Siberian Irises, 1981, 74 pages, 9 color plates, is softback and more
a handbook than a book, but good as that. about $7

All of these and more (some aimed at beginners, some more toward
botanical illustration and photography) are sold by a place called
Ibis Books, 13235 Hwy 234, Gold Hill, OR 97525 (503) 855-1480, or
at least they were a year ago.  Their brochure lists lots of other
specialized horticultural books that I haven't seen elsewhere.

Most can also be obtained through the American Iris Society, which
also publishes series of checklists, updated from time to time.  These
are a reference to the many registered varieties.
--