I found myself in an antiquarian bookshop last week looking through the horticultural titles (of course!). There were some really lovely old fashioned books - totally out of date now - but absolutely lovely to flick through. Also saw some second hand copies of newer titles, for example Prince Charles' book on Highgrove. As I worked my way through the shelves I came upon an author's name that I knew but I couldn't remember where from so I took the book down off the shelf and as I opened it I remembered why it sounded familiar.
At a college trip to the Worcester Records Office two years ago we saw lots of old books on our subject and one was 'Instruction in Gardening for Ladies' by Mrs Loudon, it was that old we had to look at it using gloves to turn the pages and I remember how amazed I was that there were once books specifically for ladies explaining a topic that used to be a male dominated subject (although having said that the horticultural world even today is quite male dominated....but I digress). Anyway the book I took down off the shelf was also by Mrs Loudon - this time entitled 'Botany for Ladies'!
Surely I thought, I have come across something quite special here, I asked the assistant how much she wanted for it, you won't believe how much!
£6.00 was all she wanted. As I flicked through the pages I thought that I must have this book even though some of the content has been superceded and the plant families have changed the text is still so interesting. So I paid without quibble and left the shop before she could change her mind!!!
The opening paragraph in the Preface reads:
"When I was a child, I never could learn Botany. There was something in the Linnean System (the one only taught then) excessively repugnet to me; I never could remember the different classes and orders, and after several attempts the study was given up as one too difficult for me to master. When I married, however, I soon found the necessity of knowing something of Botany, as well of Gardening. I always accompanied my husband in his visits to different gardens; and when we saw beautiful flowers, I was continually asking the names, though alas! these names, when I heard them, conveyed no ideas to my mind, and I was not any wiser than before."
The closing paragraph:
"It has been often said that the study of nature has a tendency to elevate and ameliorate the mind; and there is perhaps no branch of Natural History which more fully illustrates the truth of this remark than Botany."
I smile as I read the text, it is very much of its time and of a world so very different both in culture and in discovery than today's world. My newly aquired book is somewhat damaged and the binding has been repaired with an old sheet of accounting paper, yellow now with age. The book was published in 1842. Regardless of its worn state I am really pleased with my little find. I've done a some research for you and found an article explaining who Mrs Loudon is, they say she was to Victorian Gardening what Mrs Beeton was to cookery. And if you're interested in reading more about Mrs Loudon and her contribution to today's horticultural world click here. Next time I'm in London I'd really like to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum and see more of her works.