Orchids: Their Culture and Management by Watson, W. & Chapman, H.J - 1903

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… Read More

Brown cloth binding with gilt titles on the spine and front board.
A very clean book Chrysanthemums and Their Culture a Practical Treatise on Propagating, Growing and Exhibiting, From the Cutting to the Silver Cup by Edwin Molyneux Early name, Suanmere , assumed to mean 'swans pool' – of the Bishop of Winchester. The Milne map, 1791, shows house belonging to A Bettesworth. His niece, who married Alexander Shearer, inherited and it was their son, Bettesworth Pitt Shearer who developed the house and grounds in the 1830s. The 1" OS survey map shows the house alongside a public road with a small rectangular garden running W-E from the house. The Greenwood map, 1826, reveals that the road has been realigned to the north leaving the original road as the southern approach road and a new approach road created to the north. The park has also been extended. The Tithe map, 1841, shows two lodges on each approach road and the house and grounds are now 59 acres. By 1868, the grounds have been extended further… Read More