The Complete Gardener.

Black leather binding with gilt edging on both boards. Red title plate with raised gilt banding and gilt lettering and decoration on the spine.

Updated by William Gowans circa 1836 In gardening terms this edition is no doubt the best rendition of this important work A popular gardening text of the 18th century with chapters divided into months of the year. Thomas Mawe, 'the gardener to the Duke of Leeds', was not the author. John Abercrombie, who was the author, was a Scottish horticulturist and one of the most prolific gardening writers of the period. Abercrombie's name did not appear as author until the 7th edition of 1776.Later editions to the 1776 being a New, and much more Complete Gardener's Calendar than any one hitherto published. Containing Not only an Account of what Work is necessary to be done in the Hot-House, Green-House, Shrubbery, Kitchen, Flower and Fruit-Gardens, for every Month in the Year; but also ample Directions for performing the said Work, according to the newest and most approved Methods now in Practice among the best Gardeners, particular Directions are given with respect to Soil and Situation; and to the Whole is added, complete and useful Lists of Forest Trees, Flowering Shrubs, Fruit Trees, Evergreens. Annual, Biennial, and Perennial Flowers. Hot-House, Green-House and Kitchen Garden Plants. With the Varieties of each Sort, cultivated in the English Gardens.

John Abercrombie (1726–1806) was a Scottish horticulturist important to renovating garden techniques. He is noted for the book Every Man His Own Gardener (1767), which he co-wrote with Thomas Mawe. He also taught botany at the University of Cambridge. As a young man Abercrombie was employed at the Royal Gardens at Kew, and at Leicester House; and later set up a successful market gardening business in Hackney and later at Tottenham. He wrote a number of other works on gardening.