LINN^US. 197 



copied these engravings, and commenced a rigorous 

 examination of flowers and fruits. Towards the 

 end of his twentieth year, he attempted to arrange 

 in systematic order the various species growing in 

 the neighbourhood of Wexio and Stenbrohult, many 

 of which he found it difficult to determine, owing 

 to the imperfect manner in which they had been 

 described. Down to this period he had not dis- 

 tinguished himself in any other way than as a young 

 man who was supposed to be foolishly addicted to 

 the study of natural objects, while he ought to have 

 been engaged in more important pursuits ; although 

 he says he had always been among the first in ma- 

 thematics and natural philosophy. 



On leaving the gymnasium at Wexio, the rector, 

 Nicolas Krok, gave him a certificate expressed in 

 the following terms : — '' Students may be compared 

 to the trees of a nursery. Often among the young 

 plants are found some which, notwithstanding the 

 care that has been bestowed upon them, resemble 

 wild shoots j but, if transplanted at a later period, 

 they change their nature, and sometimes bear deli- 

 cious fruit. With this hope only I send this young 

 man to the university, where another climate may 

 perhaps prove favourable to his progress." This 

 testimonial, however, he did not find it necessary 

 to show ; for he was introduced to the rector by one 

 of his old teachers, Gabriel Hoek, whom he fortu- 

 nately met at Lund. 



Professor Humserus, who was his relative, had 

 promised to support him at this university; but, 

 on arriving, Linnaeus was informed that the last 

 duty had just been paid to his remains. He be- 

 came a pupil of Kilian Stobaeus^ professor of medi- 



