Garden, every month in the year; And copious instructions for the cultivation of Flower Gardens, Vineyards, Nurseries, Hop-Yards,
Green Houses and Hot Houses. By John Gardiner, & by David Hepburn, late Gardener to Gov. Mercer & Gen. Mason. City of
Washington: Printed by
Samuel H. Smith, for the Authors,
1804.
First Edition, 12mo. 2 parts in 1, with continuous signatures and pagination; 114 leaves: A-R
6, [ ]
2; part I ends on I
2, page 99.
This edition not in Sabin.
Not in Bryan.
At the end are 2 pages of Subscribers’ names, which include:
Thomas Jefferson, President U.S. 3 copies.
This was one of the books missing when Jefferson checked his library at the time of the sale in 1815, a replacing copy of
which he ordered from
Milligan on March 28, 1815: “
Hepburn’s book of gardening. 12
mo. printed at Washington
.” Milligan procured a copy, a sent it to Jefferson on April 7, price $
1.00.
It would seem that this copy was not delivered to Congress for the contemporary working copy of the 1815 catalogue has the
word
missing written beside the entry (in which the reading
2. copies is changed to
2 v 12mo) and the book (also recorded as 2 vols 12mo) is on the manuscript list of
Books Missing from the Library of Congress, made at some time after 1815.
Jefferson was looking for a copy of this work in 1813. On May 21 he wrote from Monticello to John Barnes, requesting him to ask Milligan to buy for him a copy of Gardiner and Hepburn’s book on gardening.
[809]
74
M
c.Mahon’s American gardiner’s Calendar.
8
vo.
1815 Catalogue, page 32. no. 60, as above.
M
c.MAHON,
Bernard.
The American Gardener’s Calendar; adapted to the Climates and Seasons of the United States. Containing a complete Account
of all the Work necessary to be done in the Kitchen-Garden, Fruit-Garden, Orchard, Vineyard, Nursery, Pleasure-Ground, Flower-Garden,
Green-House, Hot-House, and Forcing Frames, for every Month in the Year; with ample practical Directions for Performing the
same . . . By Bernard M’Mahon, Nursery, Seedsman, and Florist.
Philadelphia: Printed by
B. Graves, for the Author,
1806.
SB93 .M16
First Edition. 8vo in fours. 338 leaves, folded printed table.
Sabin 43560.
Bradley III, 99.
McMahon sent Jefferson a copy with a letter, written from Philadelphia on April 17, 1806: “I have much pleasure in requesting your acceptance of one of my publications on Horticulture, which I forward you by this
mail. Should my humble efforts, meet with your approbation, and render any service to my adopted and much beloved country,
I shall feel the happy consolation, of having contributed my mite to the welfare of my fellow men.”
Jefferson replied on April 25: “
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to m(
~
r)
M
c.Mahon for the book he has been so kind as to send him. from the rapid view he has taken of it & the original matter it appears
to contain he has no doubt it will be found an useful aid to the friends of an art, too important to health & comfort & yet
too much neglected in this country . . .
”
On receipt of this letter McMahon wrote (on April 30) to thank Jefferson for his friendly note.
On October 14 of the following year, 1807, Jefferson ordered books from
Duane, including “
M
c.Mahon’s book of gardening
.” Duane replied on October 16: “McMahon’s Book and the
Elements of Botany
I can also get, and shall carry them on with me at the close of the next week . . .”
On March 8, 1808, Jefferson bought a copy from
Milligan, price $
3.50.
