168
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
until the microscope, was invented. Their effects were some-
times noted, but blights, blasts and mildews were generally
regarded as having theological rather than botanical significance.
Some years ago the late Professor Boulger began a historical
account of the botany of Essex and read two papers before this
Club, which were published in the Essex Naturalist, vols.
xi. (1900) and xiii. (1904). It is much to be regretted that the
series was not completed, for the author was peculiarly fitted
for searching out illustrative information on such matters.
It is not surprising, when one considers the reputed medicinal
value of plants, that the majority of the early botanists were
apothecaries; the Apothecaries' Company conducted the famous
Chelsea Physic Garden from 1673 until 1893, when it was made
over to the Charity Commissioners. That the Apothecaries
regarded it as a very necessary activity may be judged from the
many financial crises that were overcome in the 220 years in
which they continued in control.
A garden was necessary for growing rare plants brought
from overseas, but the study of these was considered to some
extent as supplementary to that of the native flora. The most
noteworthy of the earlier students of our flora was the
apothecary, Thomas Johnson (c. 1600-44). He is best known
for his edition of Gerard's Herball, but the fact that he was
the first to show a bunch of bananas in London (1633) has a
special interest; these are figured on the title-page of the Herball.
Johnson, however, has many other claims on our consideration.13
Thus, for example, his Mercurius Botanicus (1634-41) is
the first attempt at a British Flora. He began the practice
of botanical itineraries, and the herborizing excursions or
simpling voyages which he made to Kent, Hampstead Heath,
Wales and the Isle of Wight with several companions are famous
because of the accounts he wrote (1629-32).14 They "gave an
impulse to similar excursions for educational purposes, not only
13 There has been no full biography of Johnson. Much material for this, however, has
recently been published in Thomas Johnson, Botanist and Royalist, by H. Wallis Kew and H. E.
Powell.
14 "I have determined with my selfe (by Gods favourable Assistance) by the joint help of
some of my friends . . . to travell over the most parts of this Kingdome, for the finding
out of such Plants, as grow naturally in England. . . For I judge it requisite that we should
labour to know those Plants which arc, and ever are like to be Inhabitants of this Isle; for I
verily beleeve that the divine Providence had a care in bestowing Plants in each part of the Earth,
fitting and convenient to the foreknowne necessities of the future Inhabitants ; and if wee
throughly knew the Vertues of these, we needed no Indian nor American Drugges." "An
Advertisement to the Readers," Johnson's Gerard (1636, 2nd edn.).