From the Library -
Len Mullenger
The Art of Gardening John Woolridge 1700
His first book was Systema Agriculturæ, or
the Mystery of Husbandry discovered ... by J. W., Gent., [1668]
which dealt with improving agricultural land with chapters on land
drainage, and the use of clovers and vetches to improve the soil.
He also invented a 20foot high device for watering melons.
He then produced Systema Horti-culturae or The Art of Gardening
in three books. [1677] This is concerned with gardening for pleasure
and Part 1 details how to lay out a pleasure garden, the trees and
flowers but also the Grottos, statues and other ornaments such as
springs and fountains. Part 2 is concerned with planting and looking
after trees whilst part three deals with the kitchen garden including
the enriching of the ground and the making of hot beds for forcing
plants. Ours is the fourth edition of 1700 which has an appendix of
a calendar called Monthly Directions – basically the gardening
year.
William Hazlitt, the English critic, did not think
Worlidge had been very systematic in his Systema because ‘he
intermingles in his text, plants, herbs and trees in admirable confusion.
The same page describes the evergreen oak, the tree stone-crop, the
arbutus (which is the strawberry bush – I have one in my garden)
and rosemary’ yet it is a book he would rather have than
not have, ‘for it is replete with instruction and interest’.
The title page appears to be inscribed J Lucy (which presumably refers
to Jane Lucy nee Bohun). Col. George Lucy married in turn Mary and
Jane Bohun and both brought their libraries with them
The other signature on the book was Reverend William
Lucy who was the rector of Hampton Lucy but succeeded to the Charlecote
estate in 1721 after the death of the childless Colonel George. He
brought his library with him and it was amalgamated into the Lucy
Library. Many of the books bear his bookplate. He set about reorganising
the library which is probably why this book bears his signature and
the accession number 58. Unfortunately he died two years later.
Len Mullenger is a Sunday volunteer guide. Any comments
are welcome and can be sent to len@musicweb-international.com
