Gardener's
Quiz Book Norman Pellett. 2009.
Outskirts Press. softcover, 149pp.
University of Vermont Professor emeritus Norman Pellett has
self-published a fun, affordable and educational read, asking 20 questions relating to
plants in each of 10 chapters on various topics, then providing answers and
brief discussion.It is a book you can
read in small bits, anywhere throughout, and be amused and learn some facts you
may have wondered (or not) about plants. You'll come away much more educated
about gardening and plants, and as a result should have better success.
Chapters include most the topics gardeners will
encounter, beginning with botany, propagation, soils, and plant nutrition, and
continuing through various plant groups such as vegetables, fruits, annuals, perennials,
trees and shrubs.It concludes with a
chapter on insects and diseases.Questions in many cases resemble those you may encounter in a class on
the subject, yet with very understandable and readable answers for a lay person
gardener.Just opening to nutrition,
you'll see the question, "Which causes soils to become more
acid?"Choices are rain, pine
needles, and frequent fertilizer.(The
answer is, as is often the case, it depends, with discussion of how each
works.)You'll find questions from
"What do earthworms eat?" "What is the difference between dirt and soil?" to questions on which plants are best for
certain situations.Other questions are
just fun, such as word jumbles and perennials with animal names.Each chapter has simple humorous artwork of
the author.
University of Vermont Extension