INTRODUCTION. 17 



ing as they agreed or differed in the figure and struc- 

 ture of their several parts, regarding the parts of the 

 flower as being the best fitted for the purpose. This 

 notable improvement was suggested by Gesner about 

 the middle of the sixteenth century, forming, as we 

 cannot but regard it, a new era in the history of 

 botany. 



But while Gesner was employed in Germany in 

 maturing his plans of method, the same necessity 

 of methodical arrangement was also felt and pointed 

 out by an eminent botanist of Italy, though without 

 any communication, as it seems, with Gesner.* This 

 was the celebrated Caesalpinus, a native of Arezzo By Caesal- 

 in Florence, and physician to Pope Clement the 

 eighth ; who, with a mind formed for accurate in- 

 vestigation, and much practised in the metaphysics 

 of the times, and imbued with the principles of 

 sound philosophy, applied himself to the study of 

 botanical arrangement, not only with the best quali- 

 fications but with the happiest issue. For what 

 Gesner contemplated only in theory, Caesalpinus re- 

 duced to practice, presenting to the world the first 

 specimen of a methodical arrangement of plants ; 

 and reflecting, at the same time, a greater degree of 

 light upon the structure and affinity of vegetables 

 than any preceding botanist. His method, which is 

 exceedingly simple, is founded chiefly upon the fruit. 



The above are not the only proofs of the ardour 

 with which botanical investigations were prosecuted 



* Smith's Introduction, p. 351. 

 VOL. I. C 



