A comprehensive 1966 reference guide from the trusted name in household knowledge, packed with color and black-and-white botanical illustrations and practical information for every kind of home gardener.

Almost 900 pages of detailed gardening information: flowers, trees, vegetables, lawns, soil science, greenhouse gardening, plant identification, and seasonal care.

The kind of book that vintage gardeners actually used and referred to year after year, built by the editors of Reader's Digest and a team of leading horticulturists from the New York Botanical Garden.

Details

• Item: Gardening reference book
• Title: Reader's Digest Complete Book of The Garden
• Publisher: The Reader's Digest Association
• Year: 1966, First Edition
• Format: Hardcover with dust jacket
• Pages: 886
• Illustrations: Extensively illustrated in color and black-and-white throughout — botanical drawings, line illustrations, instructional diagrams
• Special Features: Plant identification guide for 800+ plant varieties; 7,000+ indexed items; sections on greenhouse gardening, landscaping, flowers, trees, lawns, soil, pest and disease control, and seasonal calendars
• Editors: Thomas H. Everett, Director of Horticulture and Senior Curator of Education, The New York Botanical Garden, plus regional experts and 21 specialists
• Measurements: 8.5" × 6" × 3"

Condition Grade: Very Good

Positives

• Binding is tight and pages are clean and bright
• Color and black-and-white illustrations are vibrant and clear throughout
• No writing, marking, or damage to interior pages
• Dust jacket is present and in good condition
• Complete and fully intact with all pages

Issues / Wear

• Page is dog-eared (previous owner's reading mark) but not torn or damaged
• Dust jacket shows minor wear on edges consistent with age and gentle use
• Light shelf wear on boards, appropriate for a 60-year-old reference book

See all photos for detail — sold as pictured.

Condition Grade Key

• Near Fine: Almost perfect. Very minor signs of age only.
• Very Good: Shows light use. Sound and attractive with minor flaws.
• Good: Complete and intact. Noticeable wear consistent with age and use.
• Fair: Shows significant wear. Readable or usable but clearly used.

Collector's Notes

In 1966, the Reader's Digest brand meant authority and trustworthiness. This gardening book delivered on that promise with nearly 900 pages of information compiled by the director of horticulture at one of the nation's leading botanical gardens. It was built to be used, referenced, marked up, and kept close by the tomato patch or the flower bed.

This copy belongs with home gardeners who still value printed reference books, collectors of vintage garden literature, or anyone building a library of mid-century domestic science. The botanical illustrations alone make it beautiful to own, and the practical information remains relevant today.

A previous owner used this book to actually garden from — there's a reading mark where they were planning or studying a section. That's what these books were made for.

A substantial, beautiful, and genuinely useful piece of vintage home reference.

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Disclaimer

All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece—please review them carefully, as they are part of the description. 

Care and Handling:
Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40–50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.