The Plough Boy. By Henry Homespun. (And Journal of the Board of Agriculture. By Solomon Southwick. Volume One, No. 1, - to- Volume Two, No.37.
1819-1821. Hardcover. 4to,30cm, in 2 volumes, 416 & 298pp., some text illustrations, printed in three columns, in the original marbled boards, heavily worn, rebacked in brown library cloth, hinges are cracked, volume one damp stained in the fore margin of the text. Volume one, hinges tight, first page (an index,probably laid in), is damaged as is the last page, the somewhat acidic paper often used in periodical during the era, is about average, housed in a fold-over clamp shell box, in dark blue book cloth, with double black and red labels, marbled interior, With a presentation on the inside board of volume one in ink: Lord Dalhousie's best Compt. to Philemon Wright, Esq. Copies of "The Plough Boy" are very rare and the value is increased not only as an association copy of Lord Dalhousie but also for the pioneering Wright family. Provenance: B.R. Mackay. The two rare volumes were presented to Phileman Wright for his Wrightville Agricultural library by Lord Dalhousie - Library book numbers 111 & 112on small paper spine labels, . were bound by Lord Dalhousie (probably had done) for Philemon Wright who solicited a donation of books from him when he was with his Excellency in Quebec, Dec. 16, 1820. . At the bottom of page 378, vol 1 of the Plough Boy, there is a comment by Lord Dalhousie (in pencil) on the article entitled "Flemish Husbandry" with a comparative table of produce of Flemish and English farmers, Lord Dalhousie remarks as follows: It is not the bleak mountains of Scotland that have progressed so much beyond the Agriculture of England, but the rich Lowlands south of the mountains. On the contrary the System off allowing is the Scottish practice and is readily exploited in England. - to Sir John Sinclair the above comparative table is not very explicit and there appears to be in it some Flemish crop errors not -redley(?).'The Plough Boy", a pioneer American agricultural weekly magazine published in Albany, first appeared in June 1819. The editor originally listed as Henry Homespun, Jr. was the pseudonym for Solomon Southwick(1773-1839), whose name appeared in the magazine title in Volume 1,number 34 with the added title, "The Plough Boy and Journal of the Board of Agriculture". The periodical had been selected as the official organ of the Board of Agriculture for the State of New York. A very popular periodical, it was printed for over twenty years. Philemon Wright(1760-1839) created the first permanent settlement in the Ottawa Valley region in 1800 on the north side of the Ottawa River. It became a primarily agricultural community covering what is now the city of Gatineau and Aylmer. At about 37,000 acres it became the most developed farming area in Lower Canada. Farms included Gateno, Columbia Falls,Columbia, Britannia, Chaudiere and Dalhousie Farm. Wright shared an interest with Lord Dalhousie in the development and improvement of agriculture in Canada. Certainly a library of agricultural books would have been of prime interest to Wright. George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie, was recognized as having an ardent interest in agricultural improvement and was noted as inspiring the formation of agricultural societies throughout the Colonies. He obviously had studied "The Plough Boy" and on page 381 of Volume I, as noted above. In Nova Scotia, Lord Dalhousie was a friend and supporter of Scottish agricultural writer,John Young, who dedicated his book, on improving Canadian agriculture,"Letters of Agricola" (Halifax, 1822) to the Governor-General. Dr. B.R.MacKay, had a long career at the Geological Survey, (1907-1953). He was a valued member of the Ottawa Historical Society and was known for leading the campaign to save historical buildings or sites. He had so many books in his large house it began to sink under the weight. He donated many articles to the Bytown museum and claimed among his prizes the present set of books, a rope that Wright had used to tie his first timber raft, etc. He also had Sir John A. Mcdonald's desk, and carried a pictur. Very Good. Item #36915
Price: $10,000.00