‘The Vegetable Garden’ is culinary history, featuring illustrations and essays on plants

“The Vegetable Garden,’’ originally published in the 19th century, is a beautiful piece of culinary history. More than 300 plants are represented in 46 luscious 12-inch-by-17-inch botanical illustrations, which were commissioned by Vilmorin, a French company that is still one of the world’s leading seed purveyors. Following the illustrations are essays about the individual vegetables.