GARDENER'S AND FARMER'S REASON WHY...

Now here's a book that offers interesting and useful information to those of us who are into growing, whether we are farming a multi-acre plot or tending a potted geranium on our front stoop. Yes, we realize it was published well over a hundred years ago and much of the information, naturally, is  in need of updating. And yet, when we carefully leafed through the book this week, it caused us to occasionally mutter one of those "hmmm...so that's why..." remarks.

We're talking about the Bullis book Gardener's and Farmer's Reason Why... written by Robert Kemp Philip and published in London in 1860.  (This author wrote a series of these "reason why" books that covered the general science, natural history, the Bible, history, and housewife's areas. They are all in the question/answer form, with a helpful alphabetical list of all questions in the Table of Contents.

Mr. Philip used the knowledge of well-recognized experts of his day to write this book, among them: Sir Humphry Davy,  Professor of Chemistry Baron Liebig, and "Mr. Lawes of Rothamstead Park, whose papers have been published in the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal."

Some of the questions addressed are:

Air, why is it necessary for the germination of seed?

Caterpillars and moths, method of destroying

Gravelly soils, how they may be improved

Horses, why does their excrement develop so strong a heat?

Light, its effect upon vegetation

Mushrooms, why do they grow by moonlight?

Nitrogen, what is it?

Ploughing, rule for.

Sap, what causes the flow of it

Yoking horses, best method of

Winds, varying, why beneficial to vegetation?

In his preface, Mr. Philip states that the farmers' and gardeners' mission is to "enrich and beautify the earth." That's a big order for those of us with soil under our nails...one that requires us to be as knowledgeable as possible about the growing process. This book is one of many in the Bullis collection that offers this knowledge. You are invited to spend some time with it on your next visit to the Bullis Room.