LINN^US. 55 



remarks on the names and properties of the plants 

 which grew around them, showing them the roots 

 of succisa, tormentilla, orchides, etc. The little 

 Carl attended with the utmost eagerness to all he 

 saw and heard, and " from that time never ceased 

 harassing his father with questions about the name, 

 qualities, and nature of every plant he met with." 

 An unlooked-for result of the evening lecture, and 

 which seems to have cost the worthy man no small 

 trouble, for the child (not unlike other children, for 

 that matter) very often asked more than his father 

 was able to answer ; in addition to which he " used 

 immediately to forget all he had learned, and 

 especially the names of plants." To cure him of 

 this mischievous habit of inattention his father 

 refused to answer his questions unless he would 

 promise to remember what was told him, which 

 judicious management wrought a speedy and 

 effectual cure, insomuch that he tells us he ever 

 afterwards retained with ease, whatever he heard. 

 Besides this retentiveness of memory he possessed 

 an "astonishing quickness of sight," an almost 

 necessary qualification for the study of his favourite 

 science. 



When the boy was eight years old a separate 

 plot of ground was assigned him by his father, 

 which was called " Carl's garden," and which he 

 soon stored with collections of plants and wild 

 flowers, gathered from the woods and fields around 

 his dwelling. At the same time he introduced a 

 variety of weeds, a treasure which it afterwards 



