50 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



probable that, as most of his medicines were derived from 

 the vegetable kingdom, this circumstance might point out 

 to him the .necessity of and excite a desire for the study of 

 botany."* 



James Logan was probably the first to direct the mind 

 of John Bartram seriously to botany, as the study of a life- 

 time. In 1729 he wrote to England for a copy of Parkin- 

 son's Herbal, which he wanted to present to John Bartram, 

 who, he said, was a person worthier of a heavier purse than 

 fortune had yet allowed him, and had a genius perfectly 

 well turned for botany.f 



Then he began to botanize all over the farm. In a 

 short time he became acquainted with every plant, shrub, 

 tree and flower in his neighborhood. Then, as opportunity 

 favored, and the work of his farm allowed, he made botan- 

 ical tours in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware, being 

 entertained by the members of the religious body to which 

 he belonged, the Society of Friends. Ere long, his circum- 

 stances improving, he extended his journeys into Virginia, 

 the Carolinas and New York ; until, in fact, he was 

 acquainted with the nature and habits of every plant that 

 grew between the Alleghany range and the Atlantic Ocean, 

 and had recorded his observations with scientific exactness. 



He owed the leisure which enabled him to pursue 

 these extensive studies to his excellent treatment of his ser- 

 vants, and his superior management of his farm. At a 

 time when almost every other farmer of any wealth culti- 

 vated his land with negro slaves, John Bartram set his 



* The portion of the sketch designated by quotation marks is taken from an 

 account of John Bartram written by his son William, and published in Professor 

 Barton's Medical and Physical Journal. See Bartram's preface to Short's Medicina 

 Brilannica. (1751). 



t 1884. ScHARF AND Westcott— ^i«<or^ of Philadelphia, I, 234. 



