The Green Thumb Garden Handbook

Library Journal

The Abrahams have made only moderate revisions to their 1977 work, itself the revision of a 1961 title. The general structure is the same, beginning with a chapter on lawns and continuing with various types of plants, with additional chapters on soils, greenhouse culture, propagation, and pest control. The section on landscaping does not address design, only listing various types of plantings. Some chapters, like the one on perennials, are virtually unchanged, while 12 percent of the chapter on organic gardening and integrated pest management is new material. This chapter suggests many ways of dealing with diseases and insect pests without using chemical controls. But because of uneven revision, malathion, diazinon, and lindane are recommended in earlier chapters. A more consistent approach can be found in Barbara Damrosh's The Garden Primer ( LJ 2/15/89), while those looking for the latest in organic practices should try Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening ( LJ 3/1/92).--Molly Newling, Piscataway P.L., N.J.