John Abercrombie (1726–1806) was a Scottish
horticulturist
Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...
important to renovating garden techniques. He is noted for the book ''Every Man His Own Gardener'' (1767), which he co-wrote with Thomas Mawe. He also taught botany at the
University of Cambridge
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
.
As a young man Abercrombie was employed at the
Royal Gardens at Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. An internationally important botanical research and education institution, it employs 1,100 ...
, and at
Leicester House; and later set up a successful
market gardening
A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. The diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically from under to ...
business in
Hackney and later at Tottenham. He wrote a number of other works on gardening.
[''The Dictionary of National Biography: the Concise Dictionary''. London: Oxford University Press, 1939; p. 3]
Selected writings
* ''The Universal Gardener and Botanist; or, a General Dictionary of Gardening and Botany'' (1778)
* ''The Garden Mushroom'' (1779)
*
The British Fruit Gardener; and Art of Pruning' (1779)
* ''A General System of Trees and Shrubs'' (ca. 1780)
*
Every Man His Own Gardener', 9th edition (1782)
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
Scottish gardeners
1726 births
1806 deaths
Academics of the University of Cambridge
Scottish agronomists
People from Prestonpans
18th-century Scottish businesspeople
Scottish horticulturists
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