LIFE ABROAD 153 
one of a group to which Artedi had devoted much 
attention. 
Linnaeus was now living with Clifford, forgetting 
his native land, friends and kindred, oblivious of past 
and future cares, for two untroubled years, which he 
himself was accustomed to denote as his most pleasant 
years. Formerly living in narrow or straitened 
circumstances, he could not at first realize it as both 
unusual and delightful to be able to live like a prince, 
having everything he wanted, splendid lodging, grand 
gardens and glasshouses, a fine library, with liberty to 
order all plants which were wanting in the garden, and 
to buy any books which were not in the library. He 
was enabled to say “ Others must travel home for the 
sake of money. I am afraid to do so for the same 
reason; here I can do as I like, but not so at home.” 
His relations with Clifford and his family being most 
cordial, he was like a son in the house. 
He now applied himself with ardour to arranging 
the herbarium at Hartecamp and added to it many 
dried plants. To increase its contents, each month 
he visited the gardens at Amsterdam, Utrecht and 
Leyden, the last especially yielding him many 
rarities. Supported by the skilful gardener, Dietrich 
Nietzel, he had great success in his efforts. Already 
in January, 1736, he succeeded by clever management 
in getting the pisang (Musa) to flower for the first time 
in Holland. This was inspected by practically all in 
the land, even the most distinguished, and Boerhaave 
himself came to receive a demonstration by Linnaeus 
of this, then held to be the finest of all plants. He 
drew up a small volume on its cultivation, entitled 
“ Musa Cliffortiana,” by which every gardener after¬ 
wards was able to induce it to flower. By his 
direction the plant was established in rich soil, water 
being withheld for many weeks, after which it was 
deluged as if by tropical rains, to which treatment it 
responded. The next year it flowered twice as freely 
at Hartecamp, and produced fruit. 
