Botanical names for English readers / by Randal H. Alcock.

  • Alcock, Randal H. (Randal Hibbert), 1833-1885.
Date:
1876
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Botanical names for English readers / by Randal H. Alcock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    narrative, dated July 13th, 1029, of an expedition in a company of ten to investigate the plants of Kent, which has been described as “ A pleasantly written account of one of the herborising excursions, which for some years it had been the practice of the company to make at intervals. This is the first printed account of a botanical excursion in England.” An appendix of three pages gives us the results of a similar journey to Hampstead Heath, on August 1st, 1629. In 1632 Johnson published a list of plants growing on Hampstead Heath and the neighbourhood, consisting of seven pages, six of which are occupied by a catalogue of names. “ This catalogue may be considered as the first ‘Flora’ of a small district printed in England.” Johnson’s edition of Gerard’s ‘Herbal’ is dated, in his letter to the reader, “ Fi-om my house on Snow-hill, Octob. 22, 1633. He tells us in his Appendix that he was “forced to perform this task within the compasse of a yeare,” which, considering the extent of the work and the ability with which it is performed, shows him to have been an expeditious writer, and one who well understood his subject. Notwithstanding the many excellencies of Gerard's book and its great popularity, a new and improved edition was greatly wanted, by reason of the numerous errors in the original work. Johnson remarks of Gerard:—“His chiefe commendation is, that he out of a propense good will to the publique aduancement of this knowledge, endeauoured to performe therein more than he could well accomplish ; which was partly through want of sufficient learning, as (besides that which he himselfe saith of liimselfe in the chapter of Water Docke) may he gathered by the translating of diuers places out of the Acluersaria.” .... The sentence to which Johnson alludes is creditable to Gerard, as showing his modesty, other instances of which are not wanting (see account of the Goose-tree, p. 46). It is as follows:—“ Other