The Book of Old-Fashioned Flowers

The Book of Old-Fashioned Flowers - And Other Plants Which Thrive in the Open-Air of England

To that distinguished and generous gardener, Canon Ellacombe, I wish to express my appreciation of his kindness in giving me the freedom of his collection of old garden books, though few are so good, interesting, or useful as his own "Plant Lore of Shakspere" and "A Gloucestershire Garden." To the Editors of the Morning Leader, Gardeners' Chronicle and Gardeners' Magazine I am obliged for the right to republish such parts of the following book as have appeared in their several papers as essays from my pen. Many years ago an ingenious writer compiled a book dealing with a subject with which he had no practical acquaintance. The whole of his alleged observations were second-hand, being derived from previous writings on the subject. In order, however, to hoodwink the public, this author laid great stress on the uselessness of mere book knowledge, saying that an ounce of experience was worth a stone of theory. Like many other foolish sayings, this one has been regarded as an inspired utterance, and has been copied by nine-tenths of all subsequent writers of handbooks. As a matter of fact, whilst a certain amount of practical experience is absolutely essential to the proper understanding of nearly all subjects, an intelligent reader can learn more in an hour from a sensible book than from many weeks of intercourse with merely "practical" people, and many weeks of so-called experience. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 48740
Author: Roberts, Harry
Release Date: Apr 18, 2015
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Illustrator: Roskruge, Ethel