This is a wonderful collection of the much loved John Cushnie's best writing for the "Daily Telegraph"'s "Gardening" supplement. It is journalism at its best, in which he achieved the perfect balance of horticulture and humour, good sense and fun. Cushnie was the master of the one liner, and pulls his readers into his articles with vigorous, fast-moving prose that is a joy to read. More than any other gardening writer today, Cushnie brings his subject alive - whether the finer points of garden design, the intricacies of planting up a rock garden, or the romance of growing climbers up a tree. He was highly opinionated, often contrary, always off-beat, but dispensed sound horticultural tips and advice with warmth and humour. When asked by Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2 to comment on hedges, John Cushnie answered: 'I love yew'. This mischievous response was typical of Cushnie - funny, quick witted and irreverent - and resulted in Evans nicknaming him 'The Hedge Man'.

Not so many years ago everyone who had a garden propagated their own plants. Nowadays we are more inclined to nip down to the garden centre to buy anything from tiny cells of bedding plants to 3-metre climbers, but in fact most of the plants we grow in our gardens can be propagated with ease. Some of the techniques are almost foolproof, even for complete beginners; others are trickier, but all are readily achievable for the amateur gardener prepared to have a go. John Cushnie also gives detailed guidance on plant hygiene, temperature and humidity, timing and how to look after your newborn plants until they are ready to fend for themselves. How to Propagate is a much-loved bible on propagation that will be indispensable to beginners and committed enthusiasts alike.