Published to help civilians grow vegetables during the First World War, The Allotment Book is a practical guide to making the most of whatever size allotment you have. Though written more than one hundred years ago, it contains easy-to-follow, reassuring advice, which still feels pertinent today, from an expert who firmly believes that we can all grow crops successfully, whether our allotment is tiny or large. The chapters cover digging techniques, making compost, clearing neglected ground, fertilisers, recommended varieties, a handy month-by-month guide to what to do at the allotment through the year and hints for novice growers. The philosophy of growing could not be more apt for our times: ‘There is comfort in the fact that all of us, farmers, allotment-holders, and cottagers are inclined to get all we can from our land during our tenancy, without putting any more into it than we can help.’

Charmingly simple line drawings and diagrams accompany this timeless text, an ideal gift for allotment growers everywhere.