"The Old English Herbals" by Eleanour Sinclair Rohde is a fascinating exploration of the rich tradition of herbal medicine in England. This book delves into the historical significance of various herbs and their uses, drawing from ancient texts and practices. Rohde meticulously examines the writings of herbalists from the past, providing insights into how these natural remedies were integrated into daily life. The work not only highlights the medicinal properties of plants but also reflect...

Originally published in 1936, by the celebrated writer Eleanour Sinclair Rohde, this book treats the subject of herbs, 'chiefly with a view to the making of a herb garden and the use of herbs for decorative effect in th flower garden'. This book covers the uses and the cultivation of herbs in exhaustive detail and is still of great practical use today. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. He...

“The Story of the Garden” provides a detailed history of the garden, exploring its origins and development throughout the ages. Contents include: “The Traditional Influence of Ancient Garden Lore”, “The Mediaeval Garden”, “The Tudor Age”, “Stuart Times”, “French and Dutch Influences”, “The Georgian Period”, “The Landscape School and the Victorian and Edwardian Eras”, “American Gardens”, “List of Plants from 'The Feate of Gardening, by Mayster Ion Gardener”, etc. Many vintage books such as ...

Even though nowadays roses are cultivated mostly for their beauty, previous ages have not been so singularly narrow-minded. Even at the turn of the century many people in appreciation of the fragrance, sweet flavor, and medicinal virtues of rose petals, hips, and leaves, still took pleasure in age-old traditional ways of making perfumes, sweet waters, jams, jellies, salads, sauces, and various kinds of confections with roses. They also knew how to crystallize the petals, to preserve the bu...

There is a certain pathos attached to the fragments from any great wreck, and in studying the few Saxon manuscripts, treating of herbs, which have survived to our day, we find their primary fascination not so much in their beauty and interest as in the visions they conjure up of those still older manuscripts which perished during the terrible Danish invasions. That books on herbs were studied in England as early as the eighth century is certain, for we know that Boniface, "the Apostle of t...

Gerard's Herbal, or The Generall Historie of Plantes, is the fourth gathering in 400 years, in a line of descent from the original folio, the 1633 edition enlarged & amended by Thomas Johnson, and the 1927 Marcus Woodward version. The Velluminous Press edition spans 428 pages containing 300 separate plant entries and 323 illustrations taken from the original woodcuts. Gerard's Herbal is a timeless treasure trove of botany, medicine, gardening, textiles, cookery and travel.

Originally published in London in 1775, One Thousand Valuable Secrets was Americanized and published in Philadelphia in 1795 in an effort to help the newly established United States become self-sufficient from Europe. As stated in the preface, the purpose of the American edition was to "promote industry and stimulate genius" and will hopefully have been "received as an acceptable contribution." Covering everything from engraving, "break[ing] an iron bar as big as the arm," and mak...

Found in the archive at Alnwick Castle, this little book features some of the oldest recipes for cocktails and cordials ever recorded. As well as tasting delicious, many of them have health-giving properties to treat everyday ailments such as asthma, weakness, balm and lip salve. To make Raspberry Wine: Take ripe Raspberries bruise them with the back of a spoon, strain them, and fill a Bottle with the Juice stop it but not very close, and set it by 4 or 5 Days: then pour i...

This multi-book file includes: Old Cookery Books and Ancient Cuisine by W. Carew Hazlitt, 1902; The Forme of Cury, a Roll of Ancient English Cookery, complied about 1390 by the master-cooks of Richard II; Chocolate of an Indian Drinke by Captain James Wadsworth, 1652; The Compleat Cook, 1658; The Closet of Sir Kenelm Digby Knight Opened, 1669; A Queens Delight or The Art of Preserving Conserving and Candying, 1671; The Queen-Like Closet or Rich Cabinet Stored with All Manner of Rare Receip...

“A flower is not a flower alone; a thousand thoughts invest it.”Daffodils signal new beginnings, daisies innocence. Lilacs mean the first emotions of love, periwinkles tender recollection. Early Victorians used flowers as a way to express their feelings—love or grief, jealousy or devotion. Now, modern-day romantics are enjoying a resurgence of this bygone custom, and this book will share the historical, literary, and cultural sig...

A one-of-a-kind color compendium of the plant life cited by history's greatest playwright, accompanied by their companion quotes from his plays and poems.Foreword by Dame Helen MirrenIn this striking compilation, Shakespeare historian Gerit Quealy and respected Japanese artist Sumié Hasegawa-Collins combine their knowledge and skill in this first and only book that examines every plant that appears in the works of Shakespeare.Bo...

A practical guide to finding and preparing food from hedgerows, parks, fields, woods, rivers and seashore. Aimed at the beginner, it also has a wealth of tips for the enthusiast, and, unlike other books on wild food, covers foraging in the urban environment as well as the countryside.The book shows the reader 'Where, How and When' to find the best edible berries, leaves, flowers, mushrooms, seaweed, shellfish and snails, with clear and full instructions on what is safe to eat. ...