THIRTY-NINE

[THOMPSON, Dr.] Manuscript notes on farming and gardening

[Chudleigh, Devon. Circa 1800-1825]. Quarto 207 x 160 x 30 mm). Pagination [2, index], [3, unnumbered remedies], 367 numbered pages, several illustrations. Original half sheep, rubbed and worn, joints splitting, spine worn. Engraved bookseller’s advertisement “Chudleigh” to front paste-down. Loosely inserted letter addressed to “Dr Thompson, Chudleigh”.

¶ This manuscript collection of agricultural and horticultural observations appears to be the work of one “Dr Thompson” of Chudleigh, Devon. The two pieces of evidence for this attribution being a loosely inserted letter addressed to “Dr Thompson, Chudleigh”, and the stationer’s label to the front paste-down of J. Efford, also of Chudleigh in Devon. Efford advertises “Bibles; Common-Prayer Books of different Sizes, and in various Binding” as well as “Spelling Books [...] Writing Paper of all Sorts [...] Indian, Japan and Common Ink; Dutch Quills” etc.

Thompson collects material on horticulture, agriculture and veterinary matters (from growing “Apricots” and “Cyder Apples” to the economics of animal husbandry and treating “the Scab” in sheep), with diversions into cheesemaking, viticulture, apiary (including “A Caution” on the swarming of bees), maintenance of regalia (receipts for “regimental blacking Balls” and “regimental Colouring for the belts” dated between 1753 and 1825 but appears to have compiled in the early 19th century. Attributions, which occur throughout, take in a wide array of sources, including periodicals (“Gent Mag”, “Bath Papers”), books (“An Invitation to the Inhabitants of England, to the Manufacture of Wines, from the Fruits of Their Own Country […] By R. Worthington […] 1812”), and individuals, including “Capt Farquarson”, who also penned the letter to Thompson recommending a “Method of Blanching, or Shelling Barley”.