Add MS 78341

EVELYN PAPERS. Vol. CLXXIV. 'A Booke of Promiscuous Notes & Observations concerning Husbandry, Building &c', with 'Gardens; Horses' added underneath; [1650s-1670s?]. Autograph. The notes have been entered under the general headings specified below, on the right-hand pages with a note of the specific topic in the right-hand margin for ease of reference, and the opposite page left blank for additional notes. The leaves between the main sections are blank. The individual topics are entered in no systematic order, some apparently from observation, some with a note of source; e.g. 'Lady Frances Shaen' after the note on potatoes (f. 6v). Handwriting and internal evidence suggest that Evelyn began the commonplace book in the 1650s when he first took possession of Sayes Court and used it partly as a practical manual and partly as a source for his published or projected works; e.g. the notes on melons have been corrected in his later hand and annotated 'these Notes were published by me in Print long since' (f. 13). Several entries are illustrated with his pen and ink sketches. At the beginning is added instructions for maintaining a garden, headed 'The Weekely Course' and 'Q[u]arterly Course' (f. 2v). There is an alphabetical index of topics at the end (ff. 142-143v). With 19th cent.(?) pencilled pagination and a note at the beginning (f. 1). Beal EvJ 28. Formerly Evelyn MS 44.

ff. ii+145. Contemporary vellum binding, lettered in ink on the front cover 'V' (i.e., following on the preceding 4 volumes?); and in the 19^th cent. hand of William John Evelyn, 'Husbandry Iohn Evelyn M.S.'. 345 x 235mm.

1. ff. 6-15. The cancelled heading 'Herbs' (f. 3) on what was afterwards changed to the general title-page, was probably intended as the heading for this section, which includes notes on fruit, types of propagation, diseases and remedies and 'Errours & Impostures'.

2. ff. 37, 42v-47. 'Agriculture' or 'De Re Rustica', including notes on arable, pasture and marsh land, units of measurement, crops, ploughs, building materials, fencing, ponds and an engine for raising water.

3. ff. 88-89. 'Husbandry for Says-Court', including brief notes of the stock, building materials to be found there, alterations to the house ('better I had don to have pulld all downe at first') and the contents of the still-house and brew-house, the latter with a sketch.

2. ff. 101-105. Observations of Architecture &c', including notes, plans and sketches of Woodcote Park, Cornbury, the stables of Berkeley House in Piccadilly, beehives, a sluice on the Thames, wharfing in 'the manner of the Hollanders' and 'the subterranean Warren'.

3. ff. 125-126. 'Horse Medicins: Catell; Dogs'.

4. ff. 132-133. 'Country Recreations', chiefly concerning training of dogs.