Traité des arbres fruitiers contenant leur figure, leur description, leur culture, &c.

First edition of a famous book on fruit trees by Henri Louis Duhamel du Monceau (1700-1782).
A large paper copy of this beautiful and famous book. Two title pages, two half titles, full page engraved frontispiece, 180 full page engraved plates, depicting various types of fruits, and several woodcut head and tailpieces.
Duhamel du Monceau, a polymath and prolific author, became intrigued by the agricultural revival in England in the beginning of the eighteenth century.
He not only translated Jethro Tull s landmark work Horse Hoeing Husbandry 1733 , but, based on his own studies in agriculture and his practical knowledge and original experiments as a landowner, he also adapted Tull s findings to the French situation in Traité de la culture des terres 1750 .
He continued to publish on agronomic subjects, including in his works "ideas as well as simple techniques" DSB . The present work embodies Duhamel du Monceau s practical knowledge and theory on fruit trees. He opens with general instructions on the cultivation of fruit trees and other fruit plants, and discusses suitable plots, the work for each season, grafting, trelliswork, pruning, illnesses, natural enemies, and the preservation of fruit.
There are 2 engraved plates on grafting and pruning. He then proceeds with a chapter on each of the following species, almond, illustrated with 4 engraved plates, apricot, 6 plates, one plate depicting common barberry, cherry shown on 16 plates, one plate again for the peachlike Cydonia, 2 plates depicting fig, strawberry illustrated on 9 plates, red currant and gooseberry shown on 2 plates, apple, 14 plates, medlar, 4 plates, and one plate depicting blackberry.
The second volume deals with the peach, illustrated on 32 plates, plum on 20 plates, pear on 58 plates, one plate depicting raspberry, and 7 for the grape.
The frontispiece, showing a man and a woman harvesting pears, is by De Sève. Well preserved copy with beautifully colored plates of this classic work on fruit trees.
References : Arnold Arboretum, p. 215: De Belder II, 265: Dunthorne 100: Nissen, BBI 550: Pritzel 2466: An Oak Spring Pomona, pp. 71 81: DSB IV, pp. 223 225.