Essays relating to agriculture and rural affairs by ANDERSON, James - 1800

A Fine Copy, Uncut and in Original Boards

ANDERSON, James. Essays relating to agriculture and rural affairs. The fifth edition, with corrections and additions. London: Printed for G. G., J. Robinson, and J. Cumming, 1800.

8vo. Twenty-three engraved plates (three of which are folding). Three volumes. xxiii, [1], 591 pp.; xxviii, 473, [7] pp.; lvi, [2], 528 pp. Original blue boards, paper spines with title in manuscript and volume number printed, entirely untrimmed.

A later, corrected and expanded edition. James Anderson was born in 1739 at Hermiston, a village near Edinburgh. His parents died when he was only fifteen years old at which time he took over the family farm. After attending courses at Edinburgh University, in 1777 he reclaimed a 1,300 acre farm at Monkshill which he successfully revived in a period of six years. He was a writer who was less interested in the new agricultural chemistry emerging during his day than he was in the practical knowledge gained by years of farming experience. He married twice, had thirteen children, and eventually died in 1808 in Isleworth.

Essays relating to agriculture and rural affairs (first ed.: 1775) was Anderson's first work. Sections discuss inclosures and fences (including much on making hedges); draining bogs and swamps; how to plant grass and make hay; the nutrition offered by various plants to farm animals; animal husbandry and the production of wool; pastures and the different types of grasses; legal and economic impediments to the cultivation of the land; and the corn laws of Great Britain.

The numerous engravings include a lovely series depicting different grasses, finely drawn and representing more than fifteen types.

A wonderful copy in original state. With the contemporary ownership signature of William Trabyan of Ashburton dated 23 December 1800 in each volume.

¶ See Fussell, vol. II, Old Farming Books, pp. 104-7, 132, and 135 for more on Anderson.