Garden Plant Directory

ZX Computing

Clive Smith

One of my biggest groans about utility programs is that some are a poor alternative to the thing they are trying to replace. Such as desk diary when its quicker to write in the book than load the program every time. Well at last I've found the reverse for once. This program is ideal if you're bit of a 'dimbo' (like me) when it comes to garden plants. The directory holds 350 flowers and shrubs and are listed in their common and Latin names and gives details of each one. You can use the program in two ways. Either to identify a flower you have by inputing all it's characteristics or to help you choose a particular flower that you want but don't know the name. For instance, say you wanted to plant some flowers but didn't know what type to get. You simply type in the characteristics you want ie: colour, height, spread, annual, biannual, when you want it to flower etc etc., and it will look through its criteria and try and find you a flower to match your needs. Great if you are just planning out your garden. There is also great room for improvement though. First, the program runs very slowly (still gardeners don't move very fast either), and secondly 350 plants and shrubs is really a drop in the ocean to the number of plants there are. Quite often it will find nothing in file even when given the simplest of requests. I think they should have divided the shrubs and plants onto different tapes to make a larger directory. Still, a very useful program and worth a look at - NB. 48K version only.

Your Spectrum

DOWN THE GARDEN PATH Calling all Speccy owners who enjoy a spot of gardening. Here for your edification is the first ever computerised plant database, called (unoriginally) Green Fingers. With it you can easily dig out the data on the ideal plants to add bloom to your gardening requirements. You can stalk around the package for up to five of 17 characteristics simultaneously - such variables as height, hardiness, sun, water and soil needs, pruning, month of flowering, colour and so on - as you rake around for the ideal plant. You can also weed out of the database, comprehensive details on over 350 flowers, shrubs and trees; Latin names, or even nick-names can be used in the search. The cassette implants into 48K Spectrums and costs £8.95 mail order from Practical Software, [redacted].