British Pomology

Hogg, Robert, 1818-1897Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 779K words
Chapters: 78

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.British Pomology by Robert HoggAuthor: Hogg, Robert, 1818-1897,Language: English, Class: SB: Agriculture: Plant culture, Release Date: Nov 16, 2014

Editor's review

British Pomology is a classic horticultural work by Robert Hogg on fruit cultivation and varieties in the British Isles, belonging to the literature of agriculture and plant culture. Its value for readers lies in two areas: historical sources and practical knowledge. On one hand, it records contemporary understanding of fruit varieties, cultivation conditions and horticultural practice, making it a reference for historians of botany and agriculture and for horticultural enthusiasts; on the other hand, its organization of fruit classification and cultivation points still offers inspiration for understanding traditional varieties and horticultural traditions today. Because it was written early, some variety names, classification criteria and cultivation techniques differ from contemporary practice, and readers should read with comparison in mind. It is best used as a reference work, to be dipped into or consulted by variety or topic rather than read cover to cover. For historians of horticulture it is a warm firsthand source; for ordinary growers it is more like an old horticultural notebook to browse.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in horticultural history, agricultural history and plant culture
Enthusiasts who grow fruit trees and want to understand traditional varieties and cultivation ideas
Readers who like consultative reading and dipping into reference books by topic
Students and researchers in gardening, agricultural history or natural history

Not a good fit for

Growers who need a manual of contemporary fruit cultivation techniques and the latest variety data
Readers who want a coherent, strongly narrative leisure read
Beginners unfamiliar with horticultural terminology who expect an illustrated introductory tutorial
Readers with little patience for old-fashioned English botanical expression

Reading tips

First browse the contents and index to identify the fruit categories or varieties you care about, then consult specific entries.
As you read, compare with modern horticultural sources and note changes in variety names and classification criteria.
Excerpt the cultivation descriptions as historical material and build your own horticultural notes.
You need not read the whole book; browse it in sessions by season or growing topic, keeping to consultative reading.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable as a modern fruit-growing guide?

Not really for direct application. The book was written long ago, and its variety classification and cultivation techniques bear the marks of their time; some content differs from contemporary practice. It is better as a source on horticultural history and traditional varieties, while actual growing should still draw on modern technical materials and local agricultural advice.

Can someone without a horticultural background read it?

You can try, but it takes patience. The book involves fruit varieties and cultivation terminology, which can be hard going without a foundation. It is best to start with the contents and overview passages, read alongside modern introductory horticultural materials, and then work gradually into specific chapters, without expecting to understand everything at once.

Why is this book worth reading as a historical source?

It records how British fruit varieties and horticultural practice were understood in a particular period and reflects the classification criteria and cultivation ideas of the time. For those studying agricultural history, botanical history or traditional varieties, such primary documents offer details and period atmosphere that later accounts cannot replace.

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About the author

Hogg, Robert, 1818-1897 Author · British · 1818–1897

Robert Hogg (1818–1897) was a British botanist and pomologist who served as Secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society. He devoted sustained attention to the classification and practical cultivation of fruit trees. His representative work, British Pomology, organizes and describes fruit varieties, combining scholarly arrangement with practical guidance, while his Fruit Manual addresses gardeners and growers in plain, well-ordered language that makes reference easy. Public information on his early education, exact years of service, and private life is limited; surviving records focus mainly on his work for the horticultural society and the above writings. Overall, Hogg's works provided reliable texts for systematizing and spreading knowledge of British fruit growing in the nineteenth century, and remain useful references for studying the horticulture and variety development of that period.