Botanic gardens, horticultural organizations, and garden centers with full-time staff usually answer garden questions, especially from members, or they refer inquirers to an appropriate source. Although more concerned with ornamental horticulture, they can supply good help in growing vegetables and fruits. They offer lectures and workshops on the subject, and maintain libraries with useful books, magazines, and catalogs. Several of them sponsor and aid community vegetable gardens. So do a few garden clubs.

Local public libraries are increasing the number of titles they offer in the categories of growing and preserving food crops. If their holdings are limited, they can be supplemented through interlibrary loans from State libraries. Ask your librarian about this. In certain rural areas bookmobiles bring desired books directly to borrowers, or the books may be mailed.

Lists of recommended books for further reading follow various chapters throughout this Yearbook.

One way to cultivate a greener thumb is by joining a garden club. In photo, members of Beltsville, Md., Garden club get advice from expert.

There are also good commercial sources of information. Most comprehensive are the nursery or garden supply centers large enough to employ one or more trained horticulturists. They have the advantage of knowing the local conditions and plant performance.

A good test of their information's authoritativeness is to pose a problem whose solution you already know. If the reply parallels or improves your understanding, you may assume you're in good hands. Beware of glib or dodging answers. An honest, "I don't know" or "I'm not sure" is better than a quick reply without basis.

The same test can be applied to books. Unfortunately, there are a number that look appealing but were prepared so quickly there is little between their covers upon which you can rely. A knowledgeable employee can help you tell the slick from the sound.

Gardening information can come from many sources, including USDA and State Extension publications and seed company catalogs.

The catalogs and gardening guides of reputable mail order suppliers often contain a wealth of detailed information from their years of experience with the crops in question. This is true of wholesale growers or plant breeders as well as retail seedsmen, fruit nurserymen, and pesticide and fertilizer manufacturers. The better ones often have an experienced staff person to answer inquiries, knowing that business growth depends on satisfied customers.

Some manufacturers of equipment and supplies for preserving food distribute highly useful booklets.

Even though there are still areas of inadequate knowledge to challenge research workers, gardeners have at their disposal enough help to assure a tremendous amount of satisfaction in producing food and beauty. The key to success is taking advantage of these excellent resources.