LAWSON, William

by William Lawson

£6,500 · Offered by Sokol Books

Fourth edition, slightly enlarged from the previous, of this beautifully illustrated work on gardening, the only published work of William Lawson, all early editions of which are now rare. Little is known of Lawson s life apart from what he tells us in the preface that he has 48 years and more experience of furnishing his northern orchard and country garden with needfull plants and usefull herbs . The work is dedicated to Sir Henry Belosses of a well known Yorkshire family who appears to have been a neighbour of the author and shared his keen horticultural interest and tastes. Lawson claims no authority for his work other than his own observation and experience; my meer and sole experience, without respect to any former-written Treatise , but he was obviously sensible, educated and well read. A man of some learning, he evidently read widely on agriculture and gardening, and his two works are also scattered with references to the classics. When he died he willed all my latine books mie English books of contraversie to his son William, which suggests that he may well have owned a relatively substantial library of books for the period. Julie Gardham Glasgow University Library Special collections. Within a small compass he provides sound instruction for planting, grafting as to make any ground good, for a rich Orchard particularly in the north. Occasionally in the text he refers to the difficulties of this environment. He advises his fellow northerners, for instance, to meddle no

• Binding: Hardcover

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