46 



In the reign of Edward the III. the first work written in this 

 country on the cultivation of the soil is supposed to have been 

 composed. The author was Walterdellenly ; it is entitled, "De 

 Yconomia, sive Housbrandia". Bishop Tanner says the sub- 

 ject is treated of well, according to the usage of the time.* 

 Nicholas Bollar, an Oxonian of skill in Natural Philosophy, 

 wrote three books " De Arborum plantatione ;" and another 

 work in two books " Do generationo Arborum et modo gene- 

 randi et plantandi" and some other tracts still in M. S.-j- 



A fondness for Plants as an object of study, was now 

 awakened, and is an earnest that the attention to their cultiva- 

 tion proportionably increased, for although Plants were sought 

 after cheifly with a view to ascertain their medicinal qualities, 

 yet the spirit of true Botanical Science was awakening, many 

 MSS. existing that were written at this period, devoted entirely 

 to a tracing of the characteristics of Plants, their Synonyms 

 &c. The first Royal Professor of Botany may be said to have 

 been appointed in this age, in the person of John Bray, by 

 Richard the 11,(1377 — 1399J who allowed him an annual pen- 

 sion for his knowledge and skill in Botany and Physic.+ 



The following authors also flourished during the period of 

 which we are treating. 



HENRY CALCOENSIS, a prior of the Benedictine Order. 

 His love of Science and Literature induced him to travel into 

 France, Germany and Italy, solely to enjoy an intercourse 

 with thelearned. He wrote in one book a "Synopsis Herbaria," 

 and translated Palladius "De Re Rustica" into the Gaelic, 

 about A. D. 1493. 



WILLIAM KORMAN, a native of Salisbury, was educated 



* PuUney's Sketches of Botany, v. i. p. 23. + Ibid. p. 24. 

 ; Ibid. p. 22. 



