75 



being " used as a great dainty among noblemen." Some 

 short, general, and for the most part judicious observations on 

 the shelter, pruning, &:c. of Trees and the cultivation of Tim- 

 ber conclude the book. — Book the third is " Of feedin"-, 

 breeding, and curing Cattle" — the fourth "Of Poultry, Fowl, 

 Fish and Bees" — Upon the whole, the work is certainly, as he 

 makes one of the characters say in the dialogue, on a subject 

 "not thoroughly entreated of by others" — and therefore by 

 implication more perfectly by himself — It is a book repleat 

 with just observations, and though short and imperfect still 

 superior to any work that had preceded it, and in fact is 

 superior in the details of cultivation to Parkinson's Paradisus, 

 that appeared more than half a Century subsequently. Too 

 much however is taken from Greek and Latin Authors, rather 

 than from contemporary practitioners. Theophrastus, Calo, 

 Columella, Pliny, &ic. are continually quoted as authorities, 

 and, in unison with them, absurd practices, and superstition* 

 the most gross, are given with all the earnestness of truth. 



JOHN GERARDE, was born at Nantwich in Cheshire, 



1545; was educated a Surgeon, and practised in London, 



where he attained considerable eminence in his profession. 



He was favoured by the College of Physicians, highly e.vtoIli;d by 



Lobel, by Drs. Bullcyn and Browne, and chosen master of the 



company of Surgeons. He was patronized by the great Lord 



Burleigh, who was a great admirer of Plants, having a better 



collection at the lime than any nobleman in the kiiigd^>m. 



Gerarde was superintendant of his Lordship's Garden, for 



twenty years He lived in Holborn, where he had a Physic 



Garden of his own, probably exceeding, in the number and 



varieties of ils products, any then in England. He seems to 



have travelltnl wlien young, up the Baltic. His Garden con - 



t..iiied nearly eleven hundred sorts of Plants, exotic und iiiil- 



geuous. In his Catalogue he descri!)es 103;J species. Tliit 



( atalojjuc was hi5 lirst publication, and appoured in \'}9G, «■•»»_ 



