The Practical Gardener. Volume I & II. [14 handcolored plates] by FRUIT & FLOWERS ANTIQUE BOTANICALS) McIntosh, Charles - 1829-1830.

London.: Thomas Kelly.. 1829-1830.. VOLUME I AND VOLUME II FROM DIFFERENT EDITIONS: Volume I with a title page copyright 1830 (in addition to pictorial title page dated 1828); volume II title page is copyright 1829. BINDING OF VOLUMES DOES NOT MATCH.
VOLUME I: Hard back volume, 8 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches, leather binding, xxviii+554pp, with pagination beginning with the Preface (iii thru viii) and a brief history of gardening (ix thru xxviii). The boards are scuffed and mottled with one plum-sized stain. 3 1/2 inch vertical crack (repaired) to front joint. The spine itself is dry and cracked and bumped at top and bottom. The bulk of the book (pp 1 thru 554) gives focus to the Culinary (or Kitchen) Garden and to the Fruit Garden. The volume contains a black and white engraved frontispiece of the idyllic garden with gardener and admiring owners (tears and stains in margins of free edges) and four beautifully hand-colored plates depicting fruit: strawberry, pineapple, pear and apple (three dated 1828; one 1829). These plates suffer modest toning, light soiling and a light dampstain (.25 inch at deepest point) across the top margin, a condition also affecting, less detrimentally, the text portion of the Fruit Garden. The text remains tightly bound, save for a single loose page in the Fruit Garden section.
VOLUME II: Hard back volume, 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches, half-leather binding, with pagination beginning at p. 555 and ending on index p. 1120. A 142 pp. Supplement follows the primary text; it is in two parts: "The Stove" and "Nursery and Planting." The last page provides Directions to the Binder and, on verso, an advert for "a new and elegant work" by McIntosh entitled "Flora and Pomona." The volume contains twenty-three full page plates, ten of which are beautifully hand-colored depicting flowering plants. A black and white plate entitled Late Forcing Pit has suffered a vertical tear; only half the plate remains. The placement of plates appears to match the instructions to the binder appearing at the rear of the book. The volume is missing the front free end paper; previous owner's address on the blank page preceding the title page. One inch split to top of front joint. The index and final page at rear have separated from the text block and are held in place by the rear free end paper, resulting in wear to the fore-edge of these sheets. Scattered light foxing to the text block and black and white plates, the color plates are in very good condition: clean and bright. Sold with all faults. This was an extremely popular work which was published in several editions over a matter of just a few years, as the rage for gardening spread among the expanding British middleclass..
VOLUME I: The complete information on the title page reads: "The Practical Gardener, and Modern Horticulturist; containing the latest and most approved methods for the management of the kitchen, fruit and flower garden, the green house, hot house etc. etc. for every month in the year; each department being distinctly and separately arranged; illustrated by numerous designs of the most eligible plans for the formation of Kitchen and Pleasure Gardens, the erection of hot houses, hot beds, green houses, conservatories, walls, fences, etc. etc. including the New Method of Heating Forcing-Houses with Hot Water Only; forming a complete system of modern practice, in the various branches of Horticultural Science. Embellished with highly finished engravings of some of the most choice and valuable fruits and flowers now cultivated in this country. By Charles McIntosh CMCHS Late Gardener to the Right Honorable the Earl of Braedalbane, and Sir Thomas Baring," etc. The first chapter is a brief history entitled "The Rise and Progress of Gardening"; subsequent sections are entitled "The Culinary Garden" and "The Fruit Garden," both of which are organized by the months of the year, beginning in January, with a discussion of gardening activities appropriate to the season and the specific vegetable or fruit. The final chapter consists of "The Forcing Garden" (or Hot House Garden) The four color plates are most attractive, with condition issues noted.

VOLUME II: The complete information on the title page reads: "The Practical Gardener, and Modern Horticulturist; containing the latest and most approved methods for the management of the kitchen, fruit and flower garden, the green house, hot house etc. etc. for every month in the year; each department being distinctly and separately arranged; illustrated by numerous designs of the most eligible plans for the formation of Kitchen and Pleasure Gardens, the erection of hot houses, hot beds, green houses, conservatories, walls, fences, etc. etc. including the New Method of Heating Forcing-Houses with Hot Water Only; forming a complete system of modern practice, in the various branches of Horticultural Science. Embellished with highly finished engravings of some of the most choice and valuable fruits and flowers now cultivated in this country. By Charles McIntosh CMCHS Late Gardener to the Right Honorable the Earl of Braedalbane, and Sir Thomas Baring," etc. The volume is organized by the months of the year, beginning in January, with a discussion of gardening activities appropriate to the season. The color plates are clean and attractive, and the volume is in overall good condition, with defects noted. .