Dear all

Following Paul Courtney2's sterling lead in alerting everyone about obscure but useful publications that you may otherwise miss, here is one on market gardening in late 19th and 20th century Sydney, Australia.  It has been privately published by the son of one of the last market gardeners [I believe this is also called truck farming in the US].  The area is Willoughby and Northbridge, now within suburban Sydney and it featured a mixed community of Chinese and European farmers.  The first farm started in the 1870s and they operated until 1981.  The book boasts detailed family and oral histories and good descriptions of how vegetable farming worked throughout the period.  Lots of pre 1950s photos.  Highly recommended - three chefs hats.

If you are interested in a copy the details are:

Ian Rannard
The forgotten gardens: the story of the last market gardens in Willoughby and Northbridge, NSW
privately published
ISBN 0 646 43274 5

Copies can be obtained from the author [ph +61 2 9958 1514 or [log in to unmask]]

The cost is AU$26.00 plus postage, which looks even cheaper expressed in Euros or U$.

Denis Gojak