30 SYLVA FLOR1FERA. 



removed the living part into another tub, and 

 attended it with great care. As it advanced 

 he laid down the branches which took root, 

 and he distributed the plants amongst his 

 friends and men of eminence. Thus the 

 laurel became known throughout Europe. 

 Clusius's plant died without flowering ; but 

 another which he gave to Aicholtz flowered 

 in May 1583; and also another a few years 

 afterwards with Joachim Camerarius at Nu- 

 remberg. * 



The laurel is not mentioned by Gerard in 

 1597, and we may therefore conclude that it 

 was not then known in England. Parkinson 

 says, in his " Garden of Pleasant Flowers," 

 which was published in 1629, that it grew in 

 the garden of Master James Cole at Highgate, 

 where it had blossomed and ripened fruit, 

 and that it was preserved by throwing a blan- 

 ket over it every winter. Cole was a mer- 

 chant in London, who appears to have be- 

 stowed much pains and expense in collecting 

 rare plants. Gerard calls him his "loving 

 friend," on which account we conclude he 

 had not received the laurel when he published 

 his Herbal ; yet we find that Cole, as well as 

 Gerard, was in friendly correspondence with 



* Clus. Hist. 





