fi HISTORY OF BOTANY. 



It is true, that Cratejas, the contemporary of Hippocrates, wrote 

 a book expressly on the subject of botany; and that the study of 

 plants was regarded as an honourable pursuit, In the time of 

 Xenophon, whe represents it in his Cyropsedis, as constituting one 

 of the branches essential to the education of the Persian youth ; but 

 it wa not yet regulated, in any wise, with system, or true philo- 

 sophical discretion. 



12. The first of the Greek philosophers, who appears 

 to have made any enquiry into the economy of vegetation , 

 upon principles any thing like scientific, was Aristotle, 

 the father of natural history, and prince of ancient 

 metaphysicians. A. C. 350. 



Aristotle is {aid to bare written two books, both of which were 

 lost: however, in the works of Theophrastus, who inherited the 

 learning of his great masters Plato and Aristotle may be seen all 

 that was known at that time regarding vegetables. A. C. 300. 



13. Notwithstanding Theophrastus devoted himself 

 with the utmost zeal to the study of physiological botany, 

 it was not an effectual cause to induce his successors to 

 follow the same steps. 



Though it mny be suspected, that some little advancement was 

 made after the days of Theophrastus, through the encouragement of 

 the great,it is evident, that the study of plantsbegan to decline among 

 the Greeks, along with the empire, and to emigrate with the other 

 arts and sciences, into Italy. 



14. Considering that botany was well received in 

 Italy, there are no substantial proofs that it was pursued 

 with any great degree of interest, as the Romans, like the 

 early Greeks, were yet too much engaged in the tumult 

 of war, to have acquired any considerable relish for the 

 study of natural history. 



