Rustic Adornments for Homes of Taste
And Recreations for Town Folk, in the Study and Imitation of Nature

An informative guide to all aspects of home and garden decoration, including ponds and aviaries, first published in 1856.

Shirley Hibberd (Author)

9781108037174, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 3 October 2011

372 pages, 62 b/w illus. 7 colour illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.1 cm, 0.47 kg

James Shirley Hibberd (1825–90) was a journalist and horticultural writer who worked as a bookseller before devoting his time to researching and lecturing and publishing on gardening. An active member of the Royal Horticultural Society, he edited several gardening magazines including Floral World, and his writing was widely enjoyed and respected. This book, first published in 1856, is Hibberd's carefully researched and practical guide to decorating the home and garden. Hibberd explains the practical aspects of garden design, the pleasures of bee-keeping, and how to construct a pond or aquarium. Full of useful advice on everything from preserving cut flowers to the ideal species of bird to keep in an aviary, this is a charming and enjoyable manual for the Victorian gardener which was very popular in its time, and remains a useful source for the cultural historian as well as an entertaining treat for the general reader.

Preface
The Aquarium: 1. Its uses and fitness as an ornament
2. Construction and furnishing of aquaria
3. Collecting specimens for stock
4. Notices of the creatures which inhabit the marine tank
5. Notices of sea-weeds
6. General management of marine aquaria
The Fresh-Water Aquarium
The Garden Aquarium
The Wardian Case
Miscellaneous Ornaments for Dwelling-Rooms: Vases for cut flowers
Fancy pots
Miniature pots
Illuminated trees
The Aviary, or Bird-House: 1. Construction of a bird-room. Account of the birds which are usually kept in aviaries
2. General management of aviary and cage birds
The Apiary, or Bee-House: 1. Pleasures and advantages of bee-keeping. Consideration of the possibility of keeping bees in town
2. A brief account of the honey-bee and its general management
3. Bee-hives and bee-houses
4. A code of bee management on humane principles
The rockery - situation, construction, planting, and management of alpines
The fernery - formation, stocking, and general management
Garden scenery and ornaments - summer-houses, arbours, decoration of gardens, rocks, banks, and ferneries, rustic seats, root ornaments, Chinese and Italian ornaments, garden-vases, flower-stands, rustic baskets, etc., etc.

Subject Areas: Botany & plant sciences [PST]