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the power both by a command of foreign intercoure, and liberal 

 funds to collect specimens of new Plants from other countries. 

 Here the man of Science can pursue his studies under favour- 

 able circumstance! otherwise unattainable in ascertaining 

 the relationship of individuals, comparing dubious species, 

 witnessing their state at different periods of growth, the soils 

 they most delight in, &c. Facts which however more belonging 

 to the research of the Botanist, throw most beneficiallight upon 

 Horticulture. Dr. Turner, who died in 1568, was undoubtedly 

 the earliest in this country that discovered any considerable 

 knowledge of Plants; contemporary with him was Dr. Bulleyn, 

 already mentioned; and the same age gave birth to Penny, 

 Lobel, and Gerardf, men devoted to the cultivation and col- 

 lection of Plants. Their writings and example were most 

 favourably met and followed by persons of fortune. Private 

 Gardens performed no trivial part in encouraging the spirit of 

 discovering new Plants, and improving their culture. Dr. 

 Turner whilst at Cologn had a Garden for "rare plants." In 

 England, the Duke of Somerset had one at Sion House, and at 

 a later period. Dr. Turner had two, one at Wells, and another 

 at Kew.* Mrs. Gape at Westminster had a small one, which 

 furnished the first specimens for the Chelsea Garden. We shall 

 have occasion to mention many others in the course of this 

 chapter. It must not be supposed that Botany, as a systema- 

 tic Science yet existed. Generic and Specific characters were 

 little regarded.— Systematic arrangement beyond that of the 

 Alphabet was scarcely thought of. Every Herbalist was a 

 Florist, and in both capacities the chief object with them seem- 

 ed to be, to discover new Plants, for they did not then distin- 

 guish between a species and a variety. Parkinson, Clusius, 

 Gerarde, &:c. were all raisers of Florists flowers. They ap- 

 peared to strive to increase their acquaintance with individuals, 

 and thus left a mass of detached subjects, which the genius of 



* Pultnoy's Sketches, v, i. p. 03. 



