14 INTRODUCTION. 



• 



We find no authentic account of a public 

 physic-garden in the vicinity of London, 

 before the year 1673, although it appears in 

 the minute-books of the Society of London, 

 (June 21, 1674) that several members pro- 

 posed to build a wall round Chelsea Garden, 

 at their own expense, with the assistance of 

 such subscriptions as they might be able to 

 procure ; provided the Court of Assistants 

 would agree to pay two pounds every year 

 for ever, to each of the six Herborizings : 

 which proposal was accepted. The pro- 

 prietors of the Laboratory Stock gave fifty 

 pounds towards the building of this wall, on 

 the condition that they were to be allowed a 

 piece of ground in the garden for Herbs. 



Evelyn observes, in his Diary, 7th August, 

 168.5, " I went to see Mr. Wats, keeper of 

 the Apothecaries Garden of Simples at 

 Chelsea, where there is a collection of innu- 

 merable rarities of that sort, particularly, be- 

 sides rare annuals, the tree bearing Jesuits 

 bark, which had done such wonders in quar- 

 tan agues. What was very ingenious, was 

 the subterranean heate, conveyed by a stove 

 under the conservatory, all vaulted with brick, 

 so as he has the doores and windowes open 

 in the hardest frost, secluding only the snow." 



