[Gardening in Scotland] The British Gardener's Calendar, chiefly adapted to the Climate of North-Britain

Sir James JUSTICE.

[Gardening in Scotland] The British Gardener's Calendar, chiefly adapted to the Climate of North-Britain: depicting the necessary works in every month, in the kitchen, fruit and pleasure gardens, and in the nursery, green-house and stove. To which is added, a Dissertation on Forest Trees, and a Catalogue of Seeds, Roots, &c. with the names of the months annexed in which they ought to be sown, by James Justice, F.R.S., one of the Principal Clerks of Session.

Edinburgh: printed for R. Fleming, 1759. Octavo. Pp. [i-]iv; [1-] 412.

Condition of contents: worm-track to upper blank margin of title and leaves up to p.15, otherwise excellent.

Contemporary speckled sheep

Condition of binding: rebacked, corners rubbed, recent front endpapers. 　

The first edition of this rare work - no copies are listed as having sold at auction, and there are none for sale. According to Henrey, Sir James Justice was only the second author to write gardening books with the Scottish gardener in mind.

Justice's first work, The Scots gardiners director was first published anonymously in 1754, the present work was published five years later. The first 346 pages of the text are taken up with Justice's month by month account of what needs to be done and when, with occasional diversions into related matters when the fancy takes him. 'A Dissertation upon the Culture of Forest Trees' runs from pp.347-399, and the work ends with a 'Catalogue of Seeds and Roots' (pp.401-412). Justice's works were well-regarded for many years, and it is clear that he writes from an actual rather than a theoretical knowledge of his subject: his enthusiasm for gardening and the purchase of rare bulbs and plants was such that he had to sell off his estate at Crichton, near Edinburgh.

Henrey III, 878