266 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNsEUS 



experiments on Linnseus's discovery of artificial pearl 

 formation. It is not so stated, but lie probably on this 

 journey considered Falsterbo an eligible place for these 

 experiments. The secret of making the pearls, for which 

 a premium of about 500/. was awarded to Linnaeus, has 

 come by descent into the possession of Mr. Dickson, the 

 great Gothenburg merchant. He has published a pam- 

 phlet on the subject. The original MS. ' De Perl arum 

 Artu ' is not be found among the papers that came into 

 the possession of Dr. Smith. The secret, being his own 

 private property, would naturally not be mentioned in 

 his published journal. 



June 25th. Linnseus travelled towards Ystad by 

 Klorup, Kampinge, Dybeck, with its outlet, Hartehamn, 

 on the seacoast. ' The land here is in the hands of the 

 peasantry, a well-to-do and thriving population. On every 

 side, as far as the eye can reach, may be seen picturesque 

 old churches and well-built farmhouses embosomed in 

 trees. The soil, when fresh-sown and harrowed rich and 

 dark as that of a market garden, seems far too good to 

 grow corn in.' l Fine teams of horses and oxen are 

 seen, and stock of all kinds flourish. The gardens and 

 orchards are protected by hornbeam hedges on the north 

 side only. Leaving this fertile garden, we cross a wild 

 sandy moor, where the lapwing alone builds its nest ; for 

 the sheep are too wise to browse where they could get 

 nothing. Each peasant-woman wears a gag across her 

 mouth, such as Queen Dorothea wore in her portrait de- 

 1 H. Marryatt. 



