look in on Leyden, at that time the book-making and 

 literary center of the world. At Leyden he met Gron- 

 ovius, the naturalist, who asked him to remain and 

 give lectures at the University. He did so, and inci- 

 dentally showed Gronovius the manuscript of his book 

 on the new system of botanic classification. 

 Gronovius was so delighted that he insisted on having 

 the book printed by the Plantins at his own expense. 

 Here was a piece of good fortune Linnaeus had not 

 anticipated. 



Linnaeus now settled down to read the proofs and 

 help the work through the presses. But he never idled 

 an hour. He studied, wrote, lectured and made little 

 excursions with his friends through the fields. 

 The book done, he hastened to send copies back to 

 Fahlun to Sara Elizabeth, saying he must see Amster- 

 dam and then go to Antwerp to visit his new found 

 printer-friends there, and then home ! 

 At Amsterdam he remained a year, living at the house 

 of Burman, the naturalist. 



The wealthy banker, Cliffort, first among amateur 

 botanists of his day, invited Linnaeus to visit him at 

 his country house at Hartecamp. Here he saw the 

 finest garden he had ever looked upon. 

 Cliffort had copies of Linnaeus' book and he now in- 

 sisted that the author should remain, catalog his col- 

 lection and issue the book with the help of the 

 Plantins, all without regard to cost. 

 It took a year to get the work out, but it yet remains 

 one of the finest things ever attempted in a book-mak- 



55 



