Science and the Garden

Most conventional gardening books concentrate on how and when to carry out horticultural tasks such as pruning, seed sowing and taking cuttings. Science and the Garden, Third Edition is unique in explaining in straightforward terms some of the science that underlies these practices. It is principally a book of 'Why' Why are plants green? Why do some plants only flower in the autumn? Why do lateral buds begin to grow when the terminal bud is removed by pruning? Why are some plants successful as weeds? Why does climate variability and change mean change for gardeners? But it also goes on to deal with the 'How', providing rationale behind the practical advice.

The coverage is wide-ranging and comprehensive and includes: the diversity, structure, functioning and reproduction of garden plants; nomenclature and classification; genetics and plant breeding; soil properties and soil management; environmental factors affecting growth and development; methods of propagation; size and form; colour, scent and sound; climate; environmental change; protected cultivation; pest, disease and weed diversity and control; post-harvest management and storage; garden ecology and conservation; sustainable horticulture; gardens and human health and wellbeing; and gardens for science.

This expanded and fully updated Third Edition of Science and the Garden includes two completely new chapters on important topics:

• Climate and Other Environmental Changes

• Health, Wellbeing and Socio-cultural Benefits

Many of the other chapters have been completely re-written or extensively revised and expanded, often with new authors and/or illustrators, and the remainder have all been carefully updated and re-edited. Published in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society, reproduced in full colour throughout, carefully edited and beautifully produced, this new edition remains a key text for students of horticulture and will also appeal to amateur and professional gardeners wishing to know more about the fascinating science behind the plants and practices that are the everyday currency of gardening.

Autorentext

Professor David Ingram, Formerly Regius Keeper, the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, RHS Professor of Horticulture and Master, St Catharine's College, Cambridge; now Honorary Professor in the Universities of Edinburgh (Science, Technology & Innovation Studies) and Lancaster (Environment Centre), UK.

Dr Daphne Vince-Prue, Formerly Reader in Botany, University of Reading, Scientific Advisor to the Agricultural Research Council and Head, Physiology and Chemistry Department, Glasshouse Crops Research Institute, UK.

Professor Peter Gregory, Formerly Director and Chief Executive, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee and Chief Executive, East Malling Research; now Professor of Global Food Security, University of Reading, UK.

Inhalt

Preface to third edition xiii

Preface to second edition xiv

Preface to first edition xv

1 Diversity in the plant world 1

2 The plant body: structure and function 14

3 Reproduction: Securing the future 37

4 Naming plants 45

5 Selecting and breeding plants 55

6 Summary 75

7 Soil cultivation and fertility 86

8 The plant environment: Light and water 102

9 Plants and seasons 120

10 Growing plants from seed 139

11 Vegetative propagation 149

12 Size and form 166

13 Colour, scent and sound in the garden 175

14 Climate and weather 191

15 Climate and other environmental changes 206

16 Protected cultivation 214

17 The diversity of the undesirables 234

18 Controlling the undesirables 248

19 Maturation, ripening and storage 262

20 Garden ecology 278

21 Garden wildlife and conservation 292

22 Low-input and low-impact gardening 299

23 Health, well-being and socio-cultural benefits 307

24 Gardens for science 320

Conclusion 328

Further reading 328

Authors and affiliations 328

Glossary 329

Index 355