48 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



On his return home he found that his reputation 

 as a practical botanist and as knowing useful 

 plants, had spread about, although he had not 

 written any work at that time. M. Fagon, a 

 distinguished botanist of the age, was physician to 

 Louis XIV., and had had many an excursion to 

 collect plants in Provence, Languedoc, and Auvergne, 

 before he became a great man at court. He got 

 plants from those localities, and had them planted 

 in the botanic gardens, of which the king was 

 fond ; and, fortunately for his prospects in life, he 

 discovered the medicinal uses of some natural 

 baths at Bareges, which he recommended to the 

 Due de Maine. On his return to Paris, M. Fagon 

 was made professor of botany and chemistry to 

 the Jardin des Plantes, and subsequently became 

 physician to the king and princes, and director of 

 the gardens. M. Fagon wanted help, for little was 

 known about the plants of the countries beyond 

 Europe, and he sought the services of a young and 

 wise botanist who had plenty of energy. He 

 destined young Tournefort for a great career, and 

 offered him the professorship of the Botanic 

 garden, intending that the young teacher, after a 

 while, should travel, and collect for the garden. 

 Finding the prospects good, Tournefort accepted 

 the position, and desirous of adding to the collec- 

 tion of plants, visited Spain again, and then Portugal. 

 Subsequently he came over to England, and then 

 collected in Holland. His name was well known 

 as that of a practical botanist, and the Dutch 



