LIN1SLEUS 63 



surrounding the parental home was an extremely fine 

 garden, and in its grounds young Linnaeus laid the founda- 

 tion of his subsequent studies. The father's garden was 

 noted for being the finest and most variegated in the 

 district, having as many as four hundred species of 

 flowers. When quite young, Carl made himself familiar 

 with the names of trees, plants, and flowers growing in 

 the neighbourhood. 



Until the age of ten Carl was educated by his father, 

 but in 1717, when Charles XII. of Sweden and others were 

 intriguing against the Brunswick dynasty in England, 

 he was sent to his first school at Wexio. He had a fair 

 elementary education, including Latin. The principal, or 

 rector, of the school was fond of botany, and he took a 

 special interest in Linnaeus when he discovered that his 

 new pupil knew all the names of the trees, plants, and 

 flowers growing in the vicinity of the school. During 

 his school days at Wexio, Linnaeus greatly neglected his 

 studies, and to such an extent that the tutors complained 

 to his father. He was so enraptured with botany that 

 he was compelled to confess to his father that he had no 

 inclination whatever for the ministry. This was such a 

 severe blow to the father that without further delay 

 Carl was apprenticed to a bootmaker. However, this 

 step caused other onlookers to think that young Linnaeus 

 would waste his time and talents as a bootmaker, so much 

 so that Professor Rothmann (professor of medicine in 



