Tips From The Old Gardeners By Duncan Crosbie

Science has begun to show that a surprising amount of the gardening folklore of our ancestors is actually true. For instance – Roses love old banana skins near their roots – the skins contain phosphates, calcium, magnesium, etc, in which many soils are deficient. If you cut yourself badly, wrap yarrow (achillea) round the wound – it contains blood-clotting chemicals which stop bleeding. An apple a day keeps the doctor away – apples contain pectin which has germicidal qualities. Duncan Crosbie takes a moderately straight-faced look at old gardening tips which can prove helpful – or in some cases should be avoided. Hardcover. Published by Oxford Past Times 2002