THE HISTORY OF MYCOLOGY IN ESSEX. 169
in England, but in other parts of Europe, and by the most
distinguished Professors,"15 B. de Jussieu, Haller, Strumph and
Linnaeus. The first institution of herborizing walks by the
Society of Apothecaries was in 1633, and seems to have been
established for the benefit especially of the younger members
of the Society and their apprentices. At first there was only
an annual excursion, but soon the number was increased to six,
two each in May and July, one each in June and August. Five
were short excursions, but one of those in July was from thirty
to fifty miles and occupied two or more days. At a fixed date
in July the plants were exhibited to members of the Society and
some chosen guests. In early years this exhibition was held at
some suburban hostelry and afterwards the company dined
together at the expense of Stewards chosen from the members
in rotation. Thus, for example, there is still in existence a
note from Petiver inviting Sloane to dine.
For the local excursions the apprentices met at 6 a.m.
"An official of the Society carried a large metal box for the
collection of the specimens, and each student carried a similar
though smaller box, slung round his shoulder, for the same
purpose. None carried umbrellas or great-coats, such incum-
brances being considered useless and superfluous, and if the rain
came down, the clothes were allowed to dry when the sun shone
again." The excursions continued for two hundred years.
Some idea of the importance placed on them may be gained from
the outline of the duties of the Demonstrator of Plants and
Praefectus Horte when William Curtis was elected in 1773.16
The list of those connected with the Society of Apothecaries
and those known to have taken part in the General Herborizings
include a surprising number of names of great significance in
the history of British botany—Sloane, Petiver, Doody, Dale,
15 This and the following quotation is from H. Field and R. H. Serapio Memoirs of the
Botanic Garden at Chelsea (1878). The first edition by Field appeared in 1820. F. D. Drewitt's
The Romance of the Apothecaries' Garden, now in its third edition, gives an account of the her-
borizings.
16 "3rd. He is expected to make some annual excursion, for two days at least, preparatory
to the Society's General Herborizing, inviting two or three of the ablest botanical members to
his assistance, the intention being to collect such vegetables as are not commonly found in the
environs of this metropolis, to be demonstrated by him at the meeting appointed for that purpose,
and he will receive 3l. towards defraying the expenses of every such journey, pursuant to the
will of Mr. Robert Loggan, a late worthy member.
"4th. He is to accompany and conduct the Students of this Society in their search after
indigenous plants, upon every day appointed for their private herborizings, which are only five
in each summer; when he is desired to use his best endeavours in preserving strict decorum
among his pupils, and in directing and confining their attention solely to the intended busines
of the day."