The Forest
Pruner; or Timber Owner's Assistant: A Treatise on the Training or Management
of British Timber Trees; Whether Intended for Use, Ornament or Shelter, Including an Explanation of the Causes of Their General Diseases and Defects,
with the Means of Prevention, and Remedies, Where Practicable. Also, an
Examination of the Properties of English Fir Timber, with Remarks on the Old
and Outlines of a New System for the Management of Oak Woods — By William Pontey, Planter and Forest Pruner to the Late Duke of Bedford — 2nd Edition, 1808 — Early Forestry Management and Nature Conservation Efforts
Publisher: Printed for J. Harding, London (1808)
In very well preserved condition. The boards and binding are solid and tight save for light shelfwear and rubbing. The pages are crisp and clean save for light foxing on the title page and very light foxing on a few pages around the page borders. Three-quarter leather binding with marbled boards. Raised bands on spine. Fine etched
frontispiece of the "Woburn Beech", two large folding plates etched
and tinted in sepia, one double-page plate and one full-page plate etched and
tinted in sepia, three full-page etched plates. 277 pages, plus advertisement at end. William Pontey
was from a prominent family of Yorkshire nurserymen. He was head gardener to
the Grimston family at Kilnwick, near Beverley, and then established himself as
"Planter and Forest Pruner" to the "Late and Present Duke of Bedford"
at Woburn Abbey. With the
patronage of the sixth Duke of Bedford, he worked hard to encourage to improve
the practices of replanting of trees and forest management on the English
estates and is known as one of the first forestry conservationists.
