Would this be a good book to own

[boxcar46]

The Ortho Problem Solver, Sixth Edition

thanks, boxcar46

[Steve Foss]

Probably, but what's the copyright date? It could be old, and then quite a few advances will have been made since then that aren't in the book.

Also, since it's produced by a company that specializes in chemical treatments for fertilizers and disease and pest control, it likely won't discuss organic control methods. Often organics work as well as the chemical treatments, and some customers will insist on organic control, so it's a good idea to get a book that handles that side of things, too.

[IFallsRon]

No book is a bad book to own. Having been in publishing for a long time, I know that a lot of information in how-to books doesn't change much from one editon to the next.

[Steve Foss]

You're right, Ron. I've got an organic gardening encyclodedia and organic how-to vegetable gardening book from the 1950s, and the things they talk about still work just fine.

It's the books that talk about specific products and specific cultivated varieties that can go out of date in a few years.

[Dotch]

'zactly. Have some weed, insect and disease guides from chemical & fertilizer companies and the info contained in them, as long as one gets the new version every year, is generally very practical & on the money. Plus, they tend to use thresholds & photos from many sources so the info & pics are sometimes better than those in the reference materials I have from unbiased sources. Just this AM, gave a customer who is also an insurance adjustor a wonderful pic of a bean leaf beetle and feeding, matching that he found in a field to a "T". Came from a comprehensive field guide I bought from a regional chemical/fertilizer disributor. And, some of these companies or companies they own are selling organic pest control products & seed in addition to their conventional line-up. Organic ag & hort crop production has come of age but is largely in its infancy, and not without its own set of challenges.