
          
[Clairville, Joseph Philippe de]

Collection choisie de plantes et arbustes. Avec un abrégé de leur
culture. Ouvrage dédié aux amateurs et propre á éclairer leur gout
en ce genre. Vol. I. Zuric, J. H. Fussli, fils, 1796.

xxi, [1] p., 1 1., 37 p. 9 col. pl. 29cm.
Has also German t.-p.: Auswahl von pflanzen und gesträuchen ...
Text in French and German.
Dept. Agr. copy incomplete; Arnold Arb. has copy 125 p. and 27 pl.

The attribution to Clairville is amply supported by the introduction, 
which is signed "C**", in which the author takes occasion to advertise 
several works in preparation. He is expecting to get out next
winter a "Manuel d'herborisation en Suisse ou Flore helvétique portative" 
which has long been needed. After some explanation of the method
and terminology to be used he mentions another work soon to be issued,
with his collaboration in the scientific part. This is the "Catalogue
des insectes de la Suisse," of which a prospectus has already appeared
in 1794, by the celebrated artist and engraver Mr. Schellenberg. The
writer is also desirous of the establishment of a new French journal
of botany and entomology on the order of the defunct "Journal de Physicue," 
and asks readers to send specimens of rare insects to Schellenberg, 
and plants to himself. It may be mentioned that Schellenberg is
probably the artist of the plates of the "Collection choisie," although
only the one for Grewia occidentalis is signed "Schellenberg. f."

This introduction also mentions a work similar to the present one,
four parts of which were published at Winterthour, 1791-94. The author
does not know whether it will be continued, but recommends the new one,
of which the format and the excellence of the engraving and coloring
should place it among the best illustrated works of the period. This
earlier work is credited to Clairville by Pritzel, but while the "Collection 
choisie" is included in the 1st edition of Pritzel among anonymous 
works, it is not to be found at all in the 2d edition; possibly
the book had not been seen and may have been excluded from the new ed.
as supposedly purely horticultural in content.
        