MEMOIR OF GESNER. 53 



multis ex Theophrasto, Plinlo et reantioribus Grsecis ; 

 facultatibus autem ex Paulo Aegineta, &c.," Basle, 

 1541. This, however, is deserving of little con- 

 sideration, as it was a work of his youth, and pro- 

 fessedly a mere compilation. In 1552 he wrote an 

 elaborate preface to Tragus's History of Plants, and 

 superintended the publication of the work. A long- 

 letter addressed to Melch. Grilandinum, a celebrated 

 botanist of Padua, in which Gesner discussed an- 

 cient and modern names of plants, and many other 

 matters relating to them, appeared in 1557. Several 

 productions of a similar kind exist ; but it is unne- 

 cessary to allude particularly to them, because the 

 reputation of Gesner as a botanist rests on what 

 was laid before the public long after his death. In 

 the specimen, published by Caspar Wolf, of the 

 plan of his great work on plants, Gesner first gives 

 the various names, including Hebrew, Greek, Latin, 

 and most of the modern languages of Europe ; se- 

 condly, Descriptions, derived both from ancient and 

 recent authors, with the addition of his own re- 

 marks in reference to the leaves, roots, flower and 

 fruit, habit, sex, ,&c. of the plant ; thirdly, the time 

 of flowering, ripening of the seed, and places best 

 adapted for germination ; fourthly, Sympathia and 

 Antipathia; fifthly, Culture, and various matters 

 relating to its use in agriculture and gardening; 

 sixthly, the various useful purposes to which the 

 plant may be converted ; seventhly, the Remedies 

 prepared from it, and temperamenta ; eighthly, 

 Philologia. 



