324 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINN&US 



Garden, facing the river, is the oldest garden of the kind 

 in existence in England, Gerard's garden in Holborn 1 

 and Tradescant's garden at Lambeth having perished.' 

 The Chelsea ground was leased to the Apothecaries' 

 Company (who still possess it) by Lord Cheyne in 1673, 

 and was finally made over to them by Sir Hans Sloane 

 in 1722. Evelyn used to walk in 'the Apothecaries' 

 garden of simples at Chelsea,' and admire ' besides many 

 rare annuals, the tree bearing Jesuits' bark, which has 

 done such wonders in quartan agues.' A statue of Sir 

 Hans Sloane was erected here in 1733. Near it is one 

 of the picturesque cedars planted in 1683 ; its com- 

 panion was blown down in 1845.' They were con- 

 spicuous objects. 



Our Carl found a great deal to talk about when 

 actually in the garden with Miller, concerning the 

 English Flora. He found a range of plants new to him 

 in those that grow upon the chalky soil of England. 

 Sweden is almost destitute of chalk, and the parts of 

 the Low Countries that he knew have no more. Carl 

 had never yet seen the line of white cliffs by Ostend. 

 It is vastly different talking in the open air with 

 an energetic young man, to sitting ceremoniously in 

 a room with an elderly gentleman who is rather bored 

 than otherwise by having to entertain you. The diffi- 

 culty with the language was perhaps greater ; but the 

 language of signs, of play of feature, and, above all, 

 of sympathy, goes farther than neatly-turned Latin. 



1 Gerard, called the Father of English herbalists. 



