I purchased Hardy Bulbs years ago from a bookseller who thought that anyone interested in bulb books should own it. In his introduction, Charles Hervey Grey admits that all the bulbs included are not hardy in all of England, and encourages readers to try some in alpine houses. I should say that it is rather a general bulb book that is not all-inclusive. Charming illustrations have been done by his wife. Vol. I covers the Iridaceae, II - Amaryllidaceae, Commelinaceae, Haemodoraceae, Ochidaceae and Scitamineae and III the Liliaceae. African and South American bulbs are covered. The book is definitely dated, but I refer to it every now and again after exhausting other sources. Nomenclature is at the time of the splitters and sometimes difficult to translate to modern usage. Kathy Andersen Wilmington, Delaware ksa@del.net . ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alberto Castillo" <ezeizabotgard@hotmail.com> To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 8:03 AM Subject: RE: [pbs] Book about Hardy Bulbs > > >>From: "Alberto Grossi" <crinum@libero.it> >>Reply-To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> >>To: "PBS" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> >>Subject: [pbs] Book about Hardy Bulbs >>Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 13:22:51 +0100 >> >>Hi all, reading "Bulbous Plants of Sothern Africa" by Du Plessis and >>Duncan, I had notice of a book by Grey "Hardy Bulbs" in three volumes, >>1938. Anyone read it? Do it deals with exotic-temperate bulbs or only with >>bulbs from cold area? >>Many thanks. >>Alberto Grossi >>Italy > > > Hi: > Grey's "Hardy Bulbs" was a monumental work and the standard about > cultivation until Brian Mathew had his " Dwarf Bulbs" out. In the meantime > there were scores of bulb books out but mostly they were copies of copies > of copies and lots of practical mistakes are found in them, making them > useless. . What makes Grey's books so outstanding is that he actually grew > the bulbs (of several families inluding orchids) and discusses in length > problems found. His descriptions are very acurate for his time. Time ago > there was a thread in PBS on everyone's favorite book and a number of > outstanding ones were listed. > Regards > Alberto > > _________________________________________________________________ > Charla con tus amigos en línea mediante MSN Messenger: > http://messenger.latam.msn.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >