112 ON THE STUDY OF BOTANY. 



Pliny says, that the Heleiiium was found in the isle of Helena, and 

 was formed Ijy iier tears ; Dioscorides tells the same story. There 

 was an island of that name on tlie coast of Attica, to which Helen re- 

 tired after the siege of Troy ; it was a native not only of that island, 

 however, but also grew in tlie neighbourhood of Alexandria, upon 

 wliich Tournefort observes that Helen's tears seemed to cost her very 

 little. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE STUDY OF BOTANY. 



BY CLERICUS. 



The study of botany has at all seasons charms that yield a vast amount 

 of delight, but more especially so during the periods of spring and 

 summer, when sucli an immensity of floral objects display tlieir pecu- 

 liarities of parts, and exhibit their beauties ; and tlie study is as rational 

 as it is innocent and useful. To encoui-age the youthful readers of this 

 magazine especially to this most interesting pursuit, and at once to 

 avail themselves of the advantages the spring and summer seasons 

 afford, induces me to compile an abridged history of the science, which 

 will show that it has long been an ardent pursuit, both in this and 

 other countries. 



Botany previous to the reign of Elizabeth was almost unknown as a 

 science, and horticulture was looked upon in no other light than as a 

 mechanical art ; but upon her accession brighter days began to dawn 

 upon it, and it was soon seen that botany formed the principal part of 

 the oidy foundation upon which an enlightened practice of horticulture 

 could rest. Tiie first establishment formed upon any regular plan for 

 the scientific cultivation of plants, was made in this reign by Gerarde, 

 who formed his physic garden (1567), althougli the first royal pro- 

 fessor of botany may be said to have been appointed by Richard II. 

 (1377-1399), wiio allowed John Bray an annual pension for his know- 

 ledge and skill in botany and physic. John Gerarde lived in Holborn, 

 and here it appears was his pliysic garden situated. He attained con- 

 siderable eminence as a surgeon, and had travelled when young up the 

 Baltic ; he had a large collection of plants, exotic and indigenous, 

 amounting to above 1100 sorts — his catalogue describes 1033 species ; 

 he was patronized by the great lord Burleigh, vho was also a great 

 admirer of plants, and who had a better collection than any other noble- 

 man in tlie kingdom. A desire for the study and knowledge of 

 plants, and their cultivation, seemed to pervade Europe simultaneously 

 at this period ; on the continent it had become popular, which our an- 

 cestors speedily followed, so that " many tributary streams began to 

 flow into this branch of the river of science." Padua took the lead, 

 wliere, whilst it was under the Venetians, a public botanic garden was 

 established in 1533. Lucas Ghinus, the first public professor of botany 

 in Europe, strongly advocated such institutions, and through him a 

 similar garden was established at Bologna, where Dr. Turner first im- 

 bibed the knowledge of plants which afterwards rendered him so cele- 

 brated. On the continent several private gardens of the same kind 

 Avere formed. We find Enricus Cordus, at Bremen, had one about 

 1530, and Mordecius at Cassel. Gesner constructed the first botanic 



