The field and garden vegetables of America

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21682

Title

The field and garden vegetables of America

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Fearing Burr Jr. presents a comprehensive manual for selecting and cultivating nearly 1,100 American field and garden vegetable varieties. This 1863 guide prioritizes variety selection over cultivation techniques, offering detailed descriptions of size, form, color, hardiness, and seasonality to assist both experienced growers and beginners in optimizing their gardens.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1863, *The Field and Garden Vegetables of America* by Fearing Burr Jr. stands as a comprehensive catalog and guide for American horticulture. Dedicated to Hon. Albert Fearing, the work systematically categorizes vegetables into twelve chapters, covering esculent roots, alliaceous plants, cucurbits, brassicas, legumes, salads, herbs, medicinal plants, fungi, and miscellaneous items like corn and tomatoes. Burr explicitly states his goal is not to teach cultivation methods, which he deems readily available in other works, but to fill a gap in literature regarding the specific characteristics of varieties. He details differences in size, form, color, quality, and maturity seasons. Burr notes that while many varieties are local and unknown, he imported seeds from England and France to ensure accurate naming and description. He also includes descriptions of inferior or worthless plants, arguing that knowing what is bad is as valuable as knowing what is good. The book features detailed entries for specific crops. For instance, the Scarlet-runner bean is described as a perennial with tuberous roots and brilliant scarlet flowers, suitable for conservatory wintering. The Lima bean is noted as tender and late-maturing, often destroyed by frost in northern states, yet esteemed for its flavor. Burr provides precise data on seed counts per quart, planting timelines, days to maturity, and soil preferences for hundreds of entries, including specific varieties like the 'Sabre' bean and various turnips and cabbages. He acknowledges debts to contemporary authorities like Vilmorin, Downing, and Loudon, adapting their directions for American climates. The work stands as a significant historical record of 19th-century American agricultural knowledge and variety diversity.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Vegetable Gardening
• Vegetable Varieties