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242J Samuel Gilbert d.1692?

The Florist’s vade-mecum : Being a choice compendium of what-ever worthy notice, hath been extant for the propagating, raising, planting, encreasing, and preserving the rarest flowers and plants that our climate and skill (in mixing, making and meliorating apted soils to each species) will perswade to live with us. With several new experiments, for raising new varieties, for their most advantageous management. In more particular method than ever yet publish’d. Together with directions what to do each month throughout the year, in both orchard and flower-garden. The second edition, corrected. By Samuel Gilbert, phileremus.

London printed for J. Taylor at the Ship, and J. Wyat at the Rose in St. Paul’s Church-Yard, 1693                  $3,800

Octavo  5 1/4 x 3 inches.  A- G12,H6 complete with 2 woodcut diagrams of parterres. Bound in a very nice contemporary blind stamped calf with slight wear to joints and edgesDSC_0003 2

This one of my favorite genres the “How to book”. Like many of the late seventeenth century How to Books, It Gets right down to business, after the dedication! To the Lady Margaret Packington in verse , And A preface to the Reader.   which has a great line in it:

“If Jackanapes on Giants Shoulders be,                                  

He hath no Eyes,or else can farther see. “

The preface is quite nice indeed, Now …the books precedes to “The necessary Tools and instruments for Gardening”, then soil types  Then a list of operations by the month.

The work is arranged according to the months. The Florists Vade-Mecum begins with “A Garden Situation…” with two engraved parterres and guide for planting. The monthly calendar starting with January that deals with different plants and choice varieties that flower in each month. Gilbert adds comments on handling a number of different plants in these monthly guides. Gilbert seems to favor Auriculas with large section in April section and in the Appendix on Auriculas. DSC_0007 2 A Table follows December with list of all plants mentioned in the text.  Gilbert’s writings contain verses, and it has been suggested that he also composed those in Rea’s Flora, Ceres, and Pomona, 1676.  In 1676 Gilbert published a pamphlet entitled Fons Sanitatis, or the Healing Spring at Willowbridge in Staffordshire, found out by … Lady Jane Gerard, London, pp. 40. Some of the cures recorded in this work are attested by himself; it was suggested that he practised as a physician (Journal of Horticulture, 1876, p. 172)

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Second edition of this manual . Henrey 159;

Not in Wing see below.

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ESTC System No. 006473920
ESTC Citation No. R474498
Author – personal LinkGilbert, Samuel, -1692?.
Title LinkThe florists vade-mecum. Being a choice compendium of whatever worthy notice hath been extant for the propagating, raising, planting, encreasing, and preserving the rarest flowers and plants that our climate and skill (in mixing, making and meliorating apted soils to each species) will perswade to live with us. With several new experiments, for raising new varieties, for their most advantageous management. In a more particular method than ever yet publish’d. Together with directions what to do each month throughout the year, in both orchard and flower-garden. The second edition, corrected. By Samuel Gilbert, phileremus.
Variant title LinkFlorist’s vade-mecum
Publisher/year LinkLondon : printed for J. Taylor at the Ship, and J. Wyat at the Rose in St. Paul’s Church-Yard, 1693.
Physical descr. [12], 137, [31] p. : ill. ; 12⁰.
General note Not in Wing.
Subject LinkFloriculture — England — Early works to 1800.
LinkGardening — England — Early works to 1800.
LinkHorticulture — England — Early works to 1800.
Genre/form LinkManuals (Handbooks).
Copies – N.America Link University of California, Los Angeles, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library

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