This 1878 guide to gardening primarily deals with the varieties of vegetables that are the trickiest for novices to successfully grow from seeds. It provides simple instructions and useful tips for the cultivation of such plants, as well as information on methods for combating insects and preventing disease. This timeless handbook is highly recommended for anyone with a practical interest in gardening. Contents include: "The Manure Hot-Bed", "Fire Hot-Beds", "Cost of Sash", "Cotton Sheeting for Covers", "Shutters", "Use of 'Flats'", "Small Boxes for Single Plants", "Planting Early Cabbage Seeds", "Soil for Hot-Beds", "Temperature", "Air and Light", Damping Off", "Watering", "Cauliflower and Celery Plants", etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on the history of gardening.