Hill (Thomas) The Profitable Art of Gardening, 2 parts in 1, fifth edition, titles with typographical borders, woodcut initials and 3 illustrations (2 of mazes), lacking portrait, K3, M3 & X2 & 3, contemporary ink signature to first title, slight worming to inner margin, title and some other leaves shaved at head touching head-lines, by Henry Bynneman, 1579 bound with Lawson (William) A New Orchard and Garden. Or The best way for planting, grafting, and to make any ground good, for a rich Orchard, 4 parts in 1, third edition, title with woodcut illustration of men working in an orchard, woodcut decorations, initials and illustrations, some full-page including 5 of knot gardens, lacking final blank, title soiled, cropped shaving woodcut on title and loss of imprint, many leaves shaved at foot (mostly signature and catchword but occasionally affecting final line), tear to margin of M3, small ink stain causing small hole to N4 affecting initial and a few letters, by I.H[aviland] for Francis Williams, 1626, both largely printed in black letter, endpapers from early italic edition of Aristotle's Politics, Evelyn family copy with modern "JE" book-label, [British Bee Books 20 & 7; Henrey 198 & 228; STC 13494 & 15331; cf.Fussell I pp.18 & 31], small 4to

⁂ Two scarce 16th century works on gardens with an excellent association. The first item, first issued in c.1558 as A most briefe and pleasaunte treatise, teachyng how to dresse, sowe, and set a garden, and which Fussell calls "except for herbals...our first book on gardening", includes the not always present second part 'A profitable instruction of the perfite ordering of Bees...' with further sections on weather, and planting and "graffing" trees. The other parts in the second item are titled 'The Country Housewife's Garden', 'A Most profitable new Treatise...of propagating Plants by Simon Harward', and 'The Husband-man's Fruitfull Orchard'.