Database research Query 1
Jane McGary (Wed, 22 Oct 2003 11:38:36 PDT)

Dash asked for feedback on what should be included in a horticultural
database intended for collections management. Compared to a botanic garden
or major nursery, I have only a small collection (my database has about
1300 entries), but here are some features I would want:

1. Ability to sort, display, and print in a variety of layouts for
different purposes. And the layouts should be easy to design!

2. Exportable to a Word document, so the list can be e-mailed to people who
don't have the database program.

3. In addition to the obvious nomenclature fields, here are those I use:
source, date acquired, location (I have the bulb frames coded in numbered
sections), cost per bulb, price (if I sell bulbs), flowering date, and
comments. Others might want fields such as height and flower description --
if I want to note these, I put them in "Comment". Another useful field,
which I'll add to my database soon, would be "Authority," for citation of
the books or articles where you have checked the plant against its
published description -- something we all need to do more. [And another
topic entirely is a really good bibliography on bulbs, indexed by genera
and maybe species, which we should put together cooperatively and add to
the PBS website. I will volunteer to coordinate such a project, since
massive bibliographies are one of my specialties.]

4. Would there be a way to add thumbnail photos, or would that make the
database too big?

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA