ROBINSON, William. Gleanings from French Gardens: comprising an account of such features of French horticulture as are most worthy of adoption in British gardens. First edition. xv, [1], 291, [1], [12]pp publisher’s adverts., frontispiece and 94 wood engravings in the text. Original decorative green gilt cloth. Some slight rubbing. Loosely inserted is the original prospectus for the work, noting it as ‘sold by Charles Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough.’ 8vo. Frederick Warne and Co. 1868. ~ The first edition of the author’s first book. In 1867 Robinson represented the nursery garden firm of Veitch at the Paris Exhibition, where he was impressed by French horticulture especially in public gardens and published the present work as a result. He praises the efficiency of Paris’s market gardens, the ‘city- gardening’, the artistry of indoor plant decoration and the excellent quality of fruit. He writes that it is only in large private gardens that the English excel.