Companion planting has been practised since Roman times, when it was noticed that some plants grew better in the presence of certain others. Today, with the constant search for more productive crops without recourse to chemicals, companion planting is coming into its own again. Bob Flowerdew spent nine years experimenting with plants that are beneficial to others, be they flowers, vegetables or fruits, and this book is the result. He also looks at plants which are good for bees, butterflies and birds, and those which help mineral accumulation and soil improvement.