Carnivorous Plants (Paperback)

The first book I bought on the subject was Peter D'Amato's "The Savage Garden". D'Amato's book is in-depth, easy to read and well laid-out. Each plant, for example, has its own section on growing and cultivation. (The aforementioned sections are colour coded for easy reference). D'Amato injects humour into his writing and gives expert advice on soil recipes, sun requirements and even windowsill growing. He clearly caters for all levels of hobbyist. The only criticism I have on the book is that he does not contain a glossary of terms. In short, the book is an excellent read and a superb reference source. It clearly sets the benchmark with which to compare other books.

Slack's book, in comparison, is not as easy to read nor is it as well laid-out. Slack's writing style is often quite heavy. The sentences are long and lead into several different points. The greatest example of these flaws lies in the section on cultivation. It is not easy to locate the information on specific plants. Similarly, Slack does not provide the reader with as much information as D'Amato. Slack, for example, will give advice on the soil requirements for some plants but not on others.

Where Slack's book really does shine is in the science. Slack explores the history and the biology of each plant to a great extent. He provides line drawings on the traps and explains the theory on how they work. The section on cultivation also reflects these points. The information is clearly aimed at the more experienced hobbyist, who is more concerned about propagating the plants than learning how to grow them.

In conclusion, Slack and D'Amato approach the subject from completely different angles. I would recommend "The Savage Garden" for all levels of hobbyists who want to reinforce and further their knowledge on growing the plants successfully. I would recommend Slack's book for those who are more interested in the science and history. Both books contain excellent sections on propagation. It is important to understand your needs before you make the decision as to which book to buy.

The first book I bought on the subject was Peter D'Amato's "The Savage Garden". D'Amato's book is in-depth, easy to read and well laid-out. Each plant, for example, has its own section on growing and cultivation. (The aforementioned sections are colour coded for easy reference). D'Amato injects humour into his writing and gives expert advice on soil recipes, sun requirements and even windowsill growing. He clearly caters for all levels of hobbyist. The only criticism I have on the book is that he does not contain a glossary of terms. In short, the book is an excellent read and a superb reference source. It clearly sets the benchmark with which to compare other books.

Slack's book, in comparison, is not as easy to read nor is it as well laid. Slack's writing style is often quite heavy. The sentences are long and lead into several different points. The greatest example of these flaws lies in the section on cultivation. It is not easy to locate the information on specific plants. Similarly, Slack does not provide the reader with as much information as D'Amato. Slack, for example, will give advice on the soil requirements for some plants but not on others.

Where Slack's book really does shine is in the science. Slack explores the history and the biology of each plant to a great extent. He provides line drawings on the traps and explains the theory on how they work. The section on cultivation also reflects these points. The information is clearly aimed at the more experienced hobbyist, who is more concerned about propagating the plants than learning how to grow them.

In conclusion, Slack and D'Amato approach the subject from completely different angles. I would recommend "The Savage Garden" for all levels of hobbyists who want to reinforce and further their knowledge on growing the plants successfully. I would recommend Slack's book for those who are more interested in the science and history. Both books contain excellent sections on propagation. It is important to understand your needs before you make the decision as to which book to buy.

For those that are interested, Barry Meyers-Rice has an excellent web-site on the subject matter... I can only hope that one day he will approach a publisher and release it in book format. His style of writing is very similar to that of D'Amato's and approaches the subject from the same angle.