Practical Horticulture, 3rd Edition - Hardcover

Rice, Laura Williams; Rice, Robert P., Jr.

4.25

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9780132606882: Practical Horticulture, 3rd Edition

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0132606887 ISBN 13: 9780132606882

Publisher: Prentice Hall, 1996

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A textbook for a course in horticultural design for non-majors, and a reference for both amateur and professional ornamental gardeners. Explains the fundamentals of horticulture and techniques for growing plants inside and outside. Updated from the 1993 edition (first in 1986) with new photographs and bibliographical references, and new information on floral arrangements and pesticides. Illustrated mostly in black and white with four pages of color prints. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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From the Publisher:

Using a practical but scientific focus, this text/reference provides comprehensive coverage of basic botanical and horticultural information with practical application in regard to both outdoor and indoor plants.

The fifth edition of Practical Horticulture marks over 20 years that the book has been in print, as well as a major turning point in broadening the text. It was originally conceived as a university text for nonmajors courses in horticulture with the idea that the students would acquire a sound (if limited) foundation in aspects of horticultural science such as physiology, nomenclature, anatomy, growth and development, and so on (Part 1). In addition to this, they would learn of the applications of the principles of horticulture to home horticulture both outdoors (Part 2) and indoors (Part 3)—applications that might eventually be useful in their lives after university.

But the clarity and readability of the text, combined with the great number of instructional photos and illustrations, have brought it to the attention of horticulture instructors who teach this course in a myriad of ways and at a variety of levels.

For this reason, in the fifth edition I have chosen to not only update but to broaden the text, keeping the basic core horticultural science in Part 1, but enhancing it with more information about the profession of horticulture and with descriptions of the techniques in commercial production horticulture. You will find the following improvements in this substantially revised fifth edition.

A new section with the current (but ever-changing) definition of what a "plant" is in the light of modern investigation into the genetic relationships among earth's organisms
A list of the national and international professional organizations for the specializations within horticulture, and a list of trade and professional journals
An introduction to ethics in horticulture, and an example of one professional organization's ethical guidelines
Sections on commercial production technology for container-grown landscape plants, bedding plants, field vegetables, high-density tree fruit production, commercial seed production, and greenhouse pot plants.

In addition, there is new material in the text on safety in regard to the mixing and application of pesticides, pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables, and power landscape maintenance equipment. A sample pesticide label diagram (in the form required by the Environmental Protection Agency) and a summary of national legislation over the past 30 years in regard to pesticides in agriculture have been included also.

Allied information on nonchemical pest and disease control and the increasing role of beneficial insects (with photos of some of them in action), a table of biological control agents such as nematodes and predator wasps, and a section on fungicidal inoculants for prevention of root diseases round out this enhancement.

The soils chapter has been enlarged to include sections on the role of soil organisms in plant growth, disussions of field capacity and matric potential in irrigation, current and traditional soil conservation techniques, and a traditional soil texture diagram.

Appreciation is expressed to Erric Ross, Mt. Hood Community College; Craig A. Tolley, County College of Morris; Dawn Gatherum, Weber State University; Ellen B. Peffley, Texas Technical University who reviewed the text.

The authors hope that the updating and broadening of the text will be appreciated by those who currently use it, and will make it more applicable to a wider range of courses taught by professors and teachers of horticultural science in all of North America.

Laura Williams Rice
Sept 21, 2001

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