Scope and Content
Frontispiece: "Hortus Woburniensis, a Descriptive Catalogue of upwards of six thousand ornamental plants cultivated at Woburn Abbey. With numerous illustrative plans for the erection of Forcing Houses, Green Houses, etc. And an account of their management throughout the year by James Forbes, A.L.S., C.M.H.S. etc., Gardener to his Grace the Duke of Bedford. Published by James Ridgway, London 1833."
Presentation copy, marked "Joseph Knight, ex dono illustratrissimi Ducis Bedfordirensis AD 1833" with late bookplate of Thomas Aloysius Perry"
Contents of book include:
Frontispiece: South West view of Woburn Abbey across Park, lithographed by F. Ross, published by J. Ridway [1833]
Title page: Engraving of Woburn - London Entrance - 1833
pp.vi-xii: List of Subscribers
pp.xv-xvii: List of Books in the Libraries of Woburn Abbey consulted or referred to
pp.1-232: Catalogue of Plants
pp.233: Plan of the Pleasure Ground, Woburn Abbey, with (pp.233-241) description of buildings etc. and plants, including (p.239) reference to the Arboretum at Flitwick House, the seat of J.T. Brooks
p.242: Plans of Her Grace's Flower Garden, in front of the Private Apartments, and of Parterres in front of the Libraries, with (pp.242-4) descriptions
p.245: Plan of the Parterres in front of the Sculpture gallery, with (pp.245-7) descriptions including reference to collection of Georginas and Pelargoniums in the garden of Henry Seymour Esq., at Woburn.
p.248: Ground plan, front elevation, and section of the Green-House [designed by Sir Jeffry Wyatville, architect] with (pp.248-260) description.
p.261: Ground plan of plant stove, with sections (2), and ground plan of pinery heated by one boiler, with (pp.261-270) descriptions etc. The pipes and boiler were erected by Messrs. Barwell & Co. of the Eagle Foundry, Northampton. Author also refers to hothouse in garden of R. Trevor Esq. of Tingrith and to the neatness of the gardens at Tingrith (p.263).
p.271: Plan, elevation and section of the Heath House [designed by Sir Jeffry Wyatville and also illustrated in "Hortus Ericaeus Woburniensis" (1825)], with (pp.271-281) description
p.282: Plan of the Parterre for Hardy Heaths [designed by Forbes' predecessor, Mr Sinclair], with (pp.282-4) description.
p.285: The Menagerie: Woburn Abbey, drawn by G.P. Harding and lithographed by F. Ross (double-page illustration), with (pp.285-6) description. Buildings erected from the designs of Mr Repton.
p.286: Lithographs of the outer and inner entrances to the Menagerie, lithographed by F. Ross from miniatures drawn by G.P. Harding.
p.287: Plan of the Gardens of the Children when young " designed by Mr Repton", with (pp.287-8) description.
p.289: Lithographed view of "Drakeloc Pond, The Chinese Temple & Evergreens, taken from Woburn Church Tower", lithographed by F. Ross (double-page illustration) with (pp.289-292) description of evergreens as planted in 1742 and improved by Mr Repton.
p.293: Lithograph of "Henry VIIths Cottage, Aspley Wood" Aspley Guise, lithographed by F. Ross and published by J. Ridgway, with (pp.293-296) description stating the architect's authorities for detail of the cottage which was built in 1810-11 to designs of Humphrey Repton.
p.296: Plan of the labyrinths of Aspley Wood
p.297: General plan of the Kitchen Gardens at Woburn "executed from the designs of William Atkinson of Grove End, St. John's Wood" with (pp.297-309) descriptions etc.
p.300: Composite plan etc., showing view of the gardener's house, view of the garden entrance, South East view of the gardener's house and front elevation of the hot-houses etc., and ground plan of the house, hot-houses and back sheds etc., with (pp.300-301) reference to plan. [Buildings designed by Atkinson?]
p.310-322: Description of the Forcing Department and discussion of materials best adapted for hot-house roofs [refers to plate 18 (p.322) and names Messrs. Jones & Co. as "the manufacturer of our houses" at Woburn].
p.322: Sections etc. of materials for Hot-House roofs (Plate 18)
p.323-332: Discussion "on heating hot-houses etc. with hot water" on the system invented by William Atkinson, Esq., with (p.331-2) note on new boiler invented by Mr Weeks who at the time of writing was "preparing a boiler etc. of this description for the gardens at Woburn Abbey".
p.333: End Elevations and sections of the fruit houses (Plate 19) showing fig or citron house, vinery and peach house [this plate also described "sections of forcing houses"], with (pp.333-349) description of Peach house.
p.350-372: Chapter on the construction of the vinery and on the propagation of the vine.
p.373-375: Chapter on the management of the fig tree (refers to plat 19) (p.333) for elevation and section of the fig house.
p.376: Composite plan of pinery (Plate 20) showing elevation, sections (2), and ground plan of building "executed from the designs of W. Atkinson Esq.", with (pp.376-397) descriptions etc.
p.398: Composite plan (plate 21) of the Pine Pit, showing ground plan and elevation, and transverse section through boiler etc. with description.
p.399: Ground plan, end elevation and cross section of the Succession Pine Pits (plate 22) "erected from the designs of W. Atkinson Esq." with (pp. 399-401) description.
p.402: Ground plan, end elevation and cross section of the Early Forcing Pit (plate 23), "also the invention of Mr Atkinson", with (pp.402-3) description.
p.404: Ground plan, end elevation and cross section of the later forcing pits (plate 24), and description.
p.405-414: Chapters on the culture of the melon, and on the management of the cucumber plant.
p.415: Ground plan and end elevation of the Mushroom House (plate 25), with (pp.415-419) description.
p.420: Plan of the hot wall and back shed (plate 26), with (pp.420-422) description.
p.423-440: Chapters on the culture of the cherry, forcing of strawberries, French beans, forcing of rhubarb, forcing the potato, sera-kale or asparagus beds, asparagus, sea-kale etc.
End: Index generum and English Index [16pp. un-numbered]
At back: Publisher's Prospectus of "Splendid Botanical and Gardening Works"