gee 
of Botany in the University of Edinburgh have been held by the 
same person, and it has become the custom that the students of the 
University go to the garden for instruction in botany. Jnstruc- 
tion: Special instruction in the sciences underlying the prague 
of horticulture and forestry is provided for the staff of the garde 
The course of instruction is spread over three years, and cee 
of lectures upon, and practical instruction in, the sciences taught. 
A reading room and library is also provided for members of ‘the 
staff taking this course. 
Notes: In 1670 a small area, St. Ann's yards, south of Holyrood 
House was maintained by two physicians, Andrew Balfour and 
Robert Sibbald, as a Physic Garden. James Southerland was ap- 
pointed to the “ Care of the Garden.’’ This was the foundation 
of the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, the real ancestor of 
the present Garden, which is (next to Oxford, 1632), the oldest 
in Great Britain. 
“In 1676 the same physicians acquired from the Town Council 
of Edinburgh a lease of the Garden of Trinity Hospital and ad- 
jacent ground for the purpose of a Physic Garden in addition to 
the Garden already existing at Holyrood, and they appointed the 
same James Southerland (16??-1715) to be ‘ Intendant’ of this 
Garden.” This has been referred to as the Town’s Botanic Gar- 
den. Part of the site is now occupied by the Waverly Station of 
the North British Railway. ‘ Physic Garden Street’ is all that 
now remains as a reminder of this Garden. 
“Tn 1699 the King’s Garden, at Holyrood House, also became a 
Physic Garden, so the connection of the Royal Botanic Garden with 
the Crown goes back to this period. These gardens were laid out 
in formal beds devoted to native and foreign plants as well as 
medicinal herbs, arranged systematically. In 1789 both original 
gardens were abandoned and combined i in a new Garden near Hod- 
dington Place, off Leith Walk. e plants were here arranged 
after the then new system of eee 
“Tn 1702 another Botanic Garden was established in Edinburgh 
adjacent to the College grounds, “apparently on the site of the 
present South College Street. This was the College Garden, and 
of it James Southerland also became custodian.”—Anon. The 
Royal Bot. Gdn., Edinburgh, with Key and Plan. Edinburgh, 
June, 1972. 
—_— 
