52 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINN&US 



relative, Professor Humerus, urged their sending him 

 thither, and offered to provide maintenance for him so 

 long as he should need it. 



We can surmise how eagerly Carl accepted this offer 

 by an entry in a pocket-book J of his of later date, 

 where he says he flew to Wexio to ask from the rector 

 the necessary testimonials for entering the university. 

 He says he left his parents on May 1 (11), 1727, for 

 Wexio, returning on May 2 (12) back to Stenbrohult 

 with his testimonial. 



On applying to Nils Krok, rector of the gymnasium 

 in that year, for a testimonial for entering the university, 

 he was given the following a very curious example of 

 the way professors then worded their certificates : 



1727. c Youth at school may be compared to 

 shrubs in a garden, which will sometimes, though 

 rarely, elude all the care of the gardeners ; but, if 

 transplanted into a different soil, may become fruitful 

 trees. With this view, therefore, and no other, the 

 bearer is sent to the university, where it is possible 

 that he may meet with a climate propitious to his 

 progress.' Signed Nils Krok. rector. 



1 This pocket-book, in the possession of the Linnasan Society, 

 is an interleaved copy of Operis agrostographici Idea, seu Gra-. 

 minum, Juncorum, Cyperorutn, Cyperoidutn, usque qffinum methodus, 

 authors Johanne Scheuchzero, M.D. Tigurin. Acad. Nat. Cur. 

 Philippo. Tiguri : Typis Bodmerianis CIOIOCCXIX. It is in- 

 scribed 'Carl Linnaeus, Upsal, 1728.' It is interleaved throughout, 

 and annotated in dainty hand-writing and carefully-drawn flowers. 

 In some of the blank pages at the end is written, 'Vita Carol i 

 Linnaei. Ens entium, miserere mei ! ' 



