184 
LINNAEUS 
who in 1711, laid out a large garden on his estate at 
Agerum, which Linnaeus himself nexer saw, but 
whose riches had awakened the admiration of both 
Swedes and foreigners. An account of the plants 
there cultivated seemed desirable, and it would be the 
first book published in Sweden in which the Linnean 
system was followed. But although Linnaeus himself 
gave the proper shape and scientific value to it L he 
considered it would be improper to usurp the credit, 
and so much the more, as his old friend and bene¬ 
factor, Rothman, had drafted the work, as well as 
written a preface of fourteen pages, in which he 
declared his judgment on the method of arrangement 
used in this catalogue. 
In the preparation of this little treatise there were 
three concerned: Ferber, Linnaeus and Rothman. 
To these may be added a fourth. In a letter to Olof 
Rudbeck, dated 15th March, 1739, Linnaeus begged 
him to read through and amend it, as the censor of 
books in Stockholm could hardly be induced to pass 
a botanic work, but all blame would be avoided if this 
were done. Submitting it to Rudbeck’s approval as 
to how far Rothman’s utterance should be supported, 
as it seemed quite too flattering. But Rudbeck shared 
Rothman’s views, and his judgment therefore stood. 
During the time which followed this publication, 
Linnaeus was so immersed in medical practice, that 
he had no time to think about plants; and he was not 
entirely dissatisfied in that he found that “ ^Esculapius 
bestowed good fortune, but Flora only Siegesbecks.” 
More than once he had had thoughts of selling his 
collections, but better economic conditions awakened 
new interest in botany, the result being the issue of 
a new and enlarged edition of his ££ Systema naturae ” 
in 1740, dedicated to Tessin, “which shall praise the 
name of my great Maecenas’s name when we are 
silent.” Also he printed two new editions of his 
££ Fundamenta,” in 1740 in Stockholm and 1741 in 
Amsterdam. 
