Two Good Books - Cheap !

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Dave W, May 13, 2011.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Dave W

    Dave W Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2006
    Messages:
    6,143
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Anything I fancy and can afford!
    Location:
    Tay Valley
    Ratings:
    +3,035
    I was in our local cut price book shop (The Works) today and came across a couple of books publsihed by Dorling Kindersley. Original price was £6.99 and they were on sale for under £3 ( I think it was £2.60 but have taken the lables off !)

    'Simple steps to success' series -

    'Vegetables in a Small Garden'
    'Herbs'

    Both books very well illustrated and even at the orginal price good value and an absolute bargain at under £3.00
     
    Dave W, May 13, 2011
    #1 Quote in Conversation
  2. music

    music Memories Are Made Of This.

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2009
    Messages:
    3,415
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    A Little Bit Of This And A Little Bit Of That.
    Location:
    Scotland
    Ratings:
    +2,786
    I also picked up a bargain last year from the charity shop:).
    It is a book by Sue And Roger Norman- Title , Patios,Pots,And Window Boxes.:).
    It Also is well illustrated :thumbsup: All this for 50 pence:thumbsup:.
     
    music, May 13, 2011
    #2 Quote in Conversation
  3. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,845
    I mooch around in charity shops looking for really old gardening books, but without much success, but I keep mooching because you never know!!:D But every now and then I find a gem of a book in small second hand shop which will make my day:thumbsup::yahoo::hapfeet:
     
    ARMANDII, May 13, 2011
    #3 Quote in Conversation
  4. Scrungee

    Scrungee Well known for it

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2010
    Messages:
    16,524
    Location:
    Central England on heavy clay soil
    Ratings:
    +28,998
    And if there's only one worthwhile new tip in a book that's only cost 50p - £1 it's a gem.
     
    Scrungee, May 13, 2011
    #4 Quote in Conversation
  5. Lad

    Lad Gardener

    Joined:
    May 10, 2011
    Messages:
    237
    Occupation:
    Senior Consultant
    Location:
    Suffolk
    Ratings:
    +46
    Best buy was a whole run of Collins guides to garden plants, bulbs roses etc with dust covers for £3 at a car boot sale. I find boot sales the bests place in North Suffolk to buy old gardening books.
     
    Lad, May 13, 2011
    #5 Quote in Conversation
  6. music

    music Memories Are Made Of This.

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2009
    Messages:
    3,415
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    A Little Bit Of This And A Little Bit Of That.
    Location:
    Scotland
    Ratings:
    +2,786
    Hi Scrungee. There is one illustration in very good detail- " HYPERTUFA" :thumbsup:.

    How To Make Your Own Stone Troughs, which are increasingly rare and also Expensive.

    So 50 pence well spent.:thumbsup:.
     
    music, May 13, 2011
    #6 Quote in Conversation
  7. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,845
    You're right, Scrungee.:D But, as you probably know, I do like reading how they did things two or three hundred years ago and if those tips, tricks, and methods are still relevant and being used today.

    I think you get to a point where you've collected all the modern good books on gardening and you're just buying the same information in a different book! :scratch: Every now and then I'll buy a modern book on a special subject as I did a few weeks ago on Cannas.:hapfeet:
     
    ARMANDII, May 13, 2011
    #7 Quote in Conversation
  8. Lad

    Lad Gardener

    Joined:
    May 10, 2011
    Messages:
    237
    Occupation:
    Senior Consultant
    Location:
    Suffolk
    Ratings:
    +46
    My father in law is 88 years old and has never heard of digging a sweet pea trench but I have books published then and they describe trenches.

    he is a know all know nothing but I am always learning
     
    Lad, May 13, 2011
    #8 Quote in Conversation
  9. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,845
    When ever we step out into the garden, Lad, we learn something new.:scratch: I think
    most of us gardeners will admit we're not Experts but we're knowledgeable in some areas of gardening that interest us.

    But it is amazing how little basic gardening has changed over the years. A lot of methods we use today were used a long time ago and have been passed on via different means because they do work.:thumbsup: May that continue!:D

    Having said that, I do like reading books and sometimes read them at least three times to get maximum enjoyment of of them.
     
    ARMANDII, May 13, 2011
    #9 Quote in Conversation
  10. NewGardener

    NewGardener Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2010
    Messages:
    149
    Ratings:
    +8
    I got a book called 'War Time Gardening' from a charity shop in Lancaster I think it was. :)
     
    NewGardener, May 13, 2011
    #10 Quote in Conversation
  11. Dave W

    Dave W Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2006
    Messages:
    6,143
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Anything I fancy and can afford!
    Location:
    Tay Valley
    Ratings:
    +3,035
    My first gardening book was inherited from dad. "Mr Middleton Suggests" published in about 1939 just when dad went off to defeat Adolf Schicklgruber and had to leave his garden behind.
    The old hints and tips are interesting and there's many money and plant saving ideas, but horticultural science has moved on and today's knowledge base is vastly greater.
     
    Dave W, May 13, 2011
    #11 Quote in Conversation
  12. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,845
    Granted that's true, Dave. Horticultural science has move on a great deal, especially in the genetic areas, but my point was that in day to day practical gardening the basic methods have not changed greatly. A lot of the "new" tips, advice and methods are no more than repeats of practices from "way back when", albeit with a few modifications to allow for chemicals, etc.

    Hang onto that Book,NG, as it will get valuable.:thumbsup: I don't buy old books though for that reason, just for the fact you can get a sense of what it was like when the book was written, I find that interesting.:D
     
    ARMANDII, May 13, 2011
    #12 Quote in Conversation
  13. NewGardener

    NewGardener Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2010
    Messages:
    149
    Ratings:
    +8
    It's brilliant to be honest Armandii, it does tell you a lot of the same stuff the new books do. Only more emphasis on growing to provide food.
     
    NewGardener, May 13, 2011
    #13 Quote in Conversation
  14. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,845
    It is good to read the old books, NG. I've got some printed just before the Great War [WW1] and just after, showing how allotments were started to provide food for the country and how they did it.:thumbsup:
    Have a quick browse through the Thread "FROM THE OLD BOOK" and you'll see what I mean.
     
    ARMANDII, May 13, 2011
    #14 Quote in Conversation
  15. Scrungee

    Scrungee Well known for it

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2010
    Messages:
    16,524
    Location:
    Central England on heavy clay soil
    Ratings:
    +28,998
    It's the array of chemicals they used then (most now banned) that gets me. I've got some not so old books with passages about the new wonder pesticide - DDT.
     
    Scrungee, May 14, 2011
    #15 Quote in Conversation
Page 1 of 2
Loading...
Similar Threads - Books Cheap
  1. Purple Streaks

    Downloading books

    Purple Streaks, Dec 9, 2021, in forum: The GC 'Buttery'
    Replies:
    3
    Views:
    608
    CanadianLori
    Dec 10, 2021
  2. Purple Streaks

    Books

    Purple Streaks, Feb 3, 2021, in forum: Freebies, Offers & Bargains
    Replies:
    16
    Views:
    2,025
    Purple Streaks
    Feb 26, 2021
  3. Purple Streaks

    Downloaded books

    Purple Streaks, Jan 17, 2021, in forum: Off-Topic Discussion
    Replies:
    17
    Views:
    1,078
    shiney
    Jan 18, 2021
  4. ARMANDII

    RECOMMENDED GARDENING/HORTICULTURAL/BOTANICAL BOOKS AND PERSONAL STUDIES INTO THE SUBJECT

    ARMANDII, Oct 5, 2020, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
    Replies:
    20
    Views:
    11,490
    Goldenlily26
    Aug 1, 2024
  5. Aldo

    Gardening books and magazines at the Internet Archive

    Aldo, Jul 21, 2020, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
    Replies:
    4
    Views:
    1,586
    Aldo
    Feb 23, 2021

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn More...
    Dismiss Notice