First edition. Folio, pp. (2)533[3]; good quality recent half-calf on cloth boards, spine with 5 raised bands and gilt titles. 75 black and white engraved plates with an extra plate - no. 6, duplicated (76 in total). An important work in garden history, aimed at the amateur gardener with an interest in the medicinal properties of plants as well as their beauty. The book contains detailed descriptions of native British plants but also contains sections on: those of which there is no native species native of this country, e.g. rue and fleawort (psyllium). The author refers to the Linnaen system of classification, but does not use it exclusively, preferring many of the older common names for plants such as Knobby-rooted Spurge, Enchanter s Nightshade, Mouse-ear Chickweed, Gold of Pleasure, Common Dragons, Gentle Thistle. Medicinal properties and methods of preparation are included for many of the plants - e.g. elecampane, no way better than eaten candied, is good for disorders of the lungs; southernwood as a conserve beaten up with sugar is good in hysterics cases…; garlic is recommended for asthma and much praise is given for the Saffron Crocus - the whole compass of medicine does not afford a nobler cordial or sudorifick. Paper fault on p.207 - 209 with a couple of words missing on pp. 208-9. Tear to the margin of plate 68, mended with no loss, light water staining to margins of pages 1-10, 49 - 58, 493 - 509 and plates 1,7, 71, 73; page 493 misnumbered 943; otherwise an attractive clean copy.