Stories
- Article
Between two summers
As Michael Malay tends his allotment, absorbing all the sensations of his surroundings, he finds the repetition of work calms the mind.
- Book extract
What the wind can bring
In this extract from ‘This Book is a Plant’, Amanda Thomson shares a newfound fascination with flowers, and reveals why our relationship with plants can also be complicated.
![Carthamus tinctorius L. Asteraceae. Safe Flower, False Saffron - Distribution: W. Asia. Dioscorides (in Beck, 2003) notes the seeds as a purgative, but also advises it made up with 30 figs, which must have helped. Gerard (1640) calls it Atractylis flore luteo the yellow distaffe thistle. and follows Dioscorides in its uses, but does get the reader confused with Cnicus benedictus, calling both plants 'wild bastard saffron'. Culpeper makes no mention of it in his early works, but later (1826) have the following: ‘Wild Saffon, or Saf-flower ... accounted a pretty strong cathartic [causing diarrhoea and vomiting], evacuating tough viscid phlegm, both upwards and downwards, and by that means is said to clear the lungs, and help the phthisic [now equated with tuberculosis]. It is likewise serviceable against the jaundice](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/B0008960/full/282%2C/0/default.jpg)
Catalogue
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The British gardener's new director, chiefly adapted to the climate of the northern countries: Directing The Necessary Works In The Kitchen, Fruit, and Pleasure Gardens, And In The Nursery, Green-House, and Stove. By Sir James Justice, Bart. F. R. S. and one of the principal Clerks of Sessions in Scotland. With the addition of his dissertation on the culture of forest-trees. To this Edition are prefixed I. His Treatise on Vegetation with Directions for making Compost for the more curious Flowers. II. An Alphabetical List of Flower Seeds, directing to the Season of sowing them. III. - of Flower Roots, with the Time of setting them. IV. - of Seeds of Trees and Flowering Shrubs, with Directions. V. - of Seeds for the improvement of Land. VI. - of American Tree Seeds, shewing in what particular Manner they are to be sown. Vii. - of the most valuable Oriental single and semi-double Hyacinths, with Reference to their Botanical Names and Culture. Viii. An Explanation of the Botanical Terms made use of in the Work. Illustrated with copper plates.
Justice, James, 1698-1763.Date: M.DCC.LXV. [1765]- Books
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A series of letters, essays, dissertations, and discourses, on various subjects: in two volumes. By Richard Clarke, Late Minister of St. Philip's Charleston, South Carolina; and late Lecturer of Stoke-Newington, and St. James's Aldgate. Volume I. Containing, I. Letters to Dr. Adam Smith, on his Account of the Death of David Hume, Esq; II. Letters to Dr. Priestley, in Defence of Drs. Reid, Oswald, and Beattie; and on Five Topics of his ̀̀appeal to the Serious and Candid Professors of Christianity. III. Letters on the Internal Evidence of the Christian Religion, by Soame Jenyns, Esq; IV. A Defence of Milton, against Dr. Johnson. V. A Synopsis, or General View of the Times, from the Prophets, &c. drawing near their Completion. VI. A probable Time assigned for the Conversion of the Jews. Vii. A Discourse on the Third Day, compared with the Seventh Day of the Law. Viii. An Address to the Jews. IX. The Assumption of the Son of Man, the Seed of the Woman, in the Throne of the Ancient of Days. Dan. vii. 13. Revel. xii. 5. X. Lines, to the Memory of the late Reverend William Law; - the late Reverend Thomas Henry Lowth; - on the Death of Infants; - on a Child sleeping in his Cradle.
Clarke, Richard, 1723-approximately 1780.Date: [1792]- Books
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The court and country confectioner: or, the house-keeper's guide; to a more speedy, plain, and familiar method of understanding the whole art of confectionary, pastry, distilling, and the making of fine flavoured English wines from all kinds of fruits, herbs, and flowers; comprehending near five hundred easy and practical receipts, never before made known. Particularly, Preserving. Candying. Icing. Transparent Marmalade. Orange. Pine-Apple. Pistachio, and other Rich Creams. Caramel. Pastils. Bomboons. Syrups. Puff, Spun, and Fruit-Pastes. Light-Biscuits. Puffs. Rich Seed-Cakes. Custards. Syllabubs. Flummeries. Trifles, Whips, Fruits, and other Jellies. - Pickles, &c. Also New and easy directions for clarifying the different degrees of sugar, together with several bills of fare of deserts for private gentlemen's families, A new edition. To which is added, a dissertation on the different species of fruits, and the art of distilling simple waters, cordials, persumed oils, and essences. By Mr. Borella, now head confectioner to the Spanish Ambassador in England.
Borella, Mr.Date: MDCCLXXII. [1772]- Books
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Botanicum medicinale; an herbal of medicinal plants on the College of Physicians list. Describing their Places of Growth, Roots, Bark, Leaves, Buds, Time of Flowering, Blossoms, Flowers, Stiles, Chives, Embrio's, Fruits, Farina, Colours, Seeds, Kernels, Seed-Vessels, Parts used in Medicine, Preparations in the Shops, Medicinal Virtues, Names in Nine Languages. Most beautifully engraved on 120 large folio copper-plates, from the exquisite drawings of the late ingenious T. Sheldrake. English Plants are drawn from Nature to the greatest Accuracy, Flowers, or Parts, too small to be distinguished, are magnified. Nothing in any Language exceeds this Thirty Years laborious Work, of which may truly be said that Nature only equals it, every Thing of the Kind, hitherto attempted, being trivial, compared to this inimitable Performance. Designed to promote Botanical Knowledge, prevent Mistakes in the Use of Simples in compounding and preparing Medicines, to illustrate, and render such Herbals as want the just Representations in their proper Figures and Colours more useful. Necessary to such as practise Physic, Pharmacy, Chemistry, &c. entertaining to the Curious, the Divine and Philosopher, in contemplating these wonderful Productions, - Useful to Painters, Heralds, Carvers, Designers, Gardeners, &c. The Colours of every Part are minutely described; for Utility it must be esteemed preferable to any Hortus Siccus extant. The Means to preserve Fruits, and dry Flowers, in their Native Form and Colour, are not yet discovered; Plants cannot be preserved to Persection. The Flowers, when coloured, are represented in their original Bloom, and Fruits in the inviting Charms of Maturity. To which now is added, his tables for finding the heat and cold in all climates, That Exotic Plants may be raised in Summer, and preserved in Winter.
Sheldrake, Timothy, -1770.Date: [1759?]- Books
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Contemplations amongst Vincent's Rocks, near the city of Bristol: In which there is a Description, not only of the said Rocks, and of the Woods, and a peculiar Flower that grows upon and amongst them, but also Of the Hot-Wells, so samed through all the known World. Likewise of the River that runs between the said Rocks, and of Birds and other Animals that inhabit and seed thereon. Some Notice also is taken of the Ships and other Vessels that are almost continually passing and repassing to and from the City of Bristol. - With some Observations that have been made at different Times on board some Ships, whilst they have been waiting for a Wind in Kingsroad. The whole not only entertaining to the Reader, but also tending, thro' the Divine. Blessing, to the Conviction, Conversion, and Comfort of the Redeemed of the Lord; as every Object treated of is attempted to be Spiritualized. By the Rev. John Dolman, Vicar of Chalk in Kent.
Dolman, John, active 1758-1765.Date: 1772