The Theory of Horticulture
Or, An Attempt to Explain the Principal Operations of Gardening upon Physiological Principles

A guide to plant life and horticultural practice by influential botanist and taxonomist John Lindley, published in 1840.

John Lindley (Author)

9781108037242, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 3 November 2011

410 pages, 37 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.3 cm, 0.52 kg

John Lindley (1799–1865) was an English horticulturalist who worked for Sir Joseph Banks and was later instrumental in saving the Royal Horticultural Society from financial disaster. His earlier books on British plants were well received and he was influential in the realm of botanical nomenclature, especially in orchidology. He was a prolific author and many of his books were aimed at a non-specialist readership. His aim in this work, published in 1840, was to provide 'the intelligent gardener, and the scientific amateur … with the rationalia of the more important operations of horticulture'. Beginning with a chapter on seeds, the first part of the book describes the life and structure of a plant - the root, the stem, the leaves, the flowers and the fruit. The second part moves on to practical topics, such as ventilation and seed-saving, as well as pruning and potting, explaining many basic concepts of plant cultivation.

Preface
Book I. Of the Principal Circumstances Connected with Vegetable Life Which Illustrate the Operations of Gardening: 1. Germination
2. Growth by the root
3. Growth by the stem
4. Actions of leaves
5. Actions of flowers
6. Of the maturation of the fruit
7. Of temperature
Book II. Of the Physiological Principles upon Which the Operations of Horticulture Essentially Depend: 1. Of bottom heat
2. Of the moisture of the soil
3. Of atmospheric moisture and temperature
4. Of ventilation
5. Of seed-sowing
6. Of seed-saving
7. Of seed-packing
8. Of propagation by eyes and knaurs
9. Of propagation by leaves
10. Of propagation by cuttings
11. Of propagation by layers and suckers
12. Of propagation by budding and grafting
13. Of pruning
14. Of training
15. Of potting
16. Of transplanting
17. Of the preservation of races by seed
18. Of the improvement of races
19. Of resting
20. Of soil and manure
Index.

Subject Areas: Botany & plant sciences [PST]