8 HISTORY OF lioTANV. 



At this memorable period, the study of plants began again to 

 engage the attention of the learned, and to be pursued with a degree 

 of industry unknown before ; while the writings of Dioscorides and 

 Pliny, (which with all their defects or redundancies, were still 

 regarded as the grand standard of botanical knowledge) began to be 

 studied and commented upon, with the most indefatigable zeal. 



17. One of the first fruits of the revived taste for 

 botanical enquiry, was the introduction of explanatory 

 wood-cut figures, with a view to elucidate verbal de- 

 scriptions. 



The merit of this great nnd important improvement, is due to 

 Brunfelsius, a native of Mentz, in Germany, and the justly regarded 

 restorer of the science in Europe. He was a physician at Bern, and 

 his work entitled Historia Plantarum, was published with illustra- 

 tive figures ; but considering that he died in 1534, we cannot wonder 

 that they were wanting in accuracy of delineation. Like all other 

 attempts of improvement, those of Brunfelsins excited the emulation 

 of other botanists, and were accordingly followed by those of Bock, 

 Cordus Faschius, Dodonaeus, and Clusius, all natives of Germany, 

 who each added something to the number or accuracy of the figures 

 of his predecessors in publication. 



18. The flame that was thus kindled up by Brunfel- 

 sius and his successors in Germany, soon began to 

 extend itself to surrounding nations, and to excite, in 

 the adjacent countries, a similar attachment to the study 

 of plants. 



In Italy, the celebrated Mathiolns was the first to cherish the 

 returning science j in France, Delachamp and the elder of the 

 Bauhins, endeavoured to embrace in one comprehensive view, the 

 whole of the vegetable kingdom ; and in our own country, Turner 

 and Gerard, gave most decided proofs of their zeal and interest, by 

 the publication of their herbals. 



19. That the knowledge of botany, began now to 

 assume a very different and improved aspect, is a natural 



