The large demand for vegetable growing since the publication of the first edition provided strong evidence that the book met a definite and widespread need. Much new material, the result of research and practical experience, has become available and has now been included by subjecting the entire text to a thorough revision. The plan has again been followed of placing emphasis on research studies that have made contributions to vegetable growing practices. Soils, fertilizers, irrigation, pest and weed control, and similar subjects are discussed at those places in the text where they have direct application to the treatment of the specific vegetable crop. Chapter 15, formerly entitled "insect and disease control", is now "Herbicides, insecticides, and Fungicides"; otherwise the chapter headings remain the same as in the first edition. The original chapter on seed production, which was said by a colleague to be "one of the subjects that everybody else has sidestepped up to now," brought forth much favorable comment. Good seed is, of course, very important, and plays a major role in the quality and yield of the growth harvested. The classifications and discussions of varieties and hybrids now include new introductions and have been enlarged in significant ways. New features in this edition include discussions of the following: improved cultural practices in general for both mineral soils and peat (muck) soils; the theory, using onion and carrot as examples, of why and how different seed production practices may subsequently influence the quality of the vegetable crop; the increasing importance of hybrids; pelleted (coated) seed; up-to-date weed, disease, and insect control measures; heat units for processing crops; storage (both common and cold); sprout in hibitors; irrigation; waxing; producing onion; tomato, and cabbage transplants; and marketing methods and containers.
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