Complete Guide to Home Gardens

London: Associated Newspapers. First Edition . Hardcover. Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. This is a 1st edition of a charming and comprehensive, vintage guide to the nation's favourite pastime, published by Associated Newspapers of London, undated, but probably circa 1950s. The book is sized approx. 21 x 14 cms (8" x 5.5") and has 560 pages, including the index. There is a coloured frontispiece, 64 pages of plates and numerous illustrations within the text. Its condition, in my opinion, is good for its age. The covers and spine are sound and the binding still secure, though beginning to crack at the front. The text is clean, just a little tanned and with minor foxing on the endpapers and page edges. There are no inscriptions. The Guide is indeed 'complete'. Chapters are as follows: I Planning the Garden II Garden Construction III Herbaceous perennials IV Flowers from Seed V Bulb Culture VI Cacti and succulents VII Trees and Shrubs VIII Roses in Garden Design IX Rock Gardens X Water Features XI The Fruit Garden XII The Vegetable Garden XIII Architectural Features XIV The Lawn - Its Making and Upkeep XV Garden Operations XVI Care of the Soil and Use of Fertilizers XVII Treatment of Pests and Diseases. As the author says in his Foreword: "A garden of some sort is within the reach of pretty well everybody. It is usually just laziness or ignorance that prevents us from getting that meed of enjoyment that is our right. There cannot be too much colour, too many sweet scents, or too many lovely curves in the world. Beauty always serves to increase beauty. Our gardens serve as perpetual reminders of that happy fact." This charming book would be a splendid addition to the collection of anyone interested in garden history - or just in gardening!