Original Down East

Over the last fifty years or so, gardening practices have closely followed those of the commercial grower and even the farmer. New methods of cultivation which improve yields or which reduce losses from pests and diseases have been discovered, and these have been translated into gardening terms. A great deal of research has also been directed at finding new methods of growing plants commercially. There is no doubt that much of the information that has come from this research has benefited the gardener, but it would be a mistake to fall into the trap of following the commercial grower automatically. Nowhere has the mimicry of the professional been more evident than in the field of pest and disease control. Just as soon as a new chemical has been produced for commercial use, so a slightly diluted version of the chemical appears in the garden shops and centers, accompanied by seductive claims that it has proved to be more effective than its competitors.

You have to remember that your requirements are very different. The farmer or commercial grower is constantly on the look-out for higher yielding, larger and therefore more profitable varieties of plants, while you are after fruit and vegetables with