Samuel Orchart Beeton, The book of garden management : comprising information on laying out and planting gardens

Samuel Orchart Beeton (1831-1877) is perhaps best known as the husband of Mrs Beeton, author of Beeton’s book of household management, which he published in parts between 1859 and 1861. He had been immediately successful in his publishing career just a few years earlier, with the publication of Uncle Tom’s cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Shortly afterwards, he launched the English Woman’s Domestic Magazine in April 1852, and later, in January 1855, the Boys own magazine. He married Isabella Mary Mason in July 1856, encouraging her in her writing career, whilst she supported him as he published a series of successful guides, under the Beeton name.

The authorship of this book has been attributed to either Mr or Mrs Beeton, although in most cases Samuel is credited as the editor. Although the Beeton name is most closely associated with cookery, this guide gives an interesting insight into Victorian approaches to gardening. We can see from the condition of this volume that the book has certainly been well used, perhaps informing the design, layout and care of former DEI proprietors’ gardens.

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