Practical Science for Gardeners

August 15, 2005
As its title suggests, this book is intended for a popular audience -for gardeners who may not know anything about science. Such readers will, however, be disappointed: this work by U.K. biologist and educator Pratt is more of a dry college textbook, albeit infused with high-level humor, on a mix of topics (the emphasis is on plant and soil chemistry, with discursive forays into plant anatomy, ecology, genetics, and taxonomy). Interspersed are text insets with practical but somewhat cursory horticultural advice. There are no color illustrations; instead, the book offers just black-and-white line drawings, tables, and scientific graphics that might be more suitable to a research paper than a popular gardening book. Far more appealing titles covering the science of gardening for lay readers are Mia Amato's "The Garden Explored" or Jim Conrad's "Discover Nature in the Garden: Things To Know and Things To Do". An optional purchase. -Brian Lym, City Coll. Lib. of San Francisco

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