. The wild-flowers of Selborne and other papers . oms, on the landings andunder the stairs, some as large as pantries, othersonly a few feet square with small openings in thewalls of the passages and rooms. These cupboardswere doubtless contrived by the illustrious naturalistwith a view to the safe custody of his botanical andzoological specimens. The woodwork of the cottagewas entirely of oak, massive oak doors and doorways,wide planks of oak flooring, black beams of oak acrossthe low ceilings. Rays study was upstairs, situatedat the back of the house, over the scullery where thefatal fire br
. The wild-flowers of Selborne and other papers . oms, on the landings andunder the stairs, some as large as pantries, othersonly a few feet square with small openings in thewalls of the passages and rooms. These cupboardswere doubtless contrived by the illustrious naturalistwith a view to the safe custody of his botanical andzoological specimens. The woodwork of the cottagewas entirely of oak, massive oak doors and doorways,wide planks of oak flooring, black beams of oak acrossthe low ceilings. Rays study was upstairs, situatedat the back of the house, over the scullery where thefatal fire broke out, and looking across the gardentowards the west. This seems to have been the onewarm room of the house, which Ray speaks of in oneof his letters as exposed to the north and north-eastwinds, and as inconvenient to one who is subject tocolds and whose lungs are apt to be affected. Andthat unpretending chamber, with its sloping ceilings,its wide oaken boards, its ancient lattice windows, washaunted by the most interesting associations. There. ESSEX AND EARLY BOTANISTS 129 the illustrious naturalist accomplished what Linnaeusrightly called his immense labours; there he exa-mined and arranged his specimens; there he receivedhis scientific friends; there he wrote his numerousworks, including the Synopsis of British plants,which may fairly be regarded as the foundation ofevery succeeding English flora. During his residence at Notley Ray was fortunatein the intimate friendship of his disciple and nearneighbour, Samuel Dale, an apothecary of Braintreeand a botanist of very considerable attainments. Thetwo friends worked in the closest harmony at theirfavourite pursuit; and to Dr. Dale Ray was indebtedfor many of the localities of Essex plants mentioned inhis Syjiopsis. Other distinguished men of science,like Sir Hans Sloane, and Compton, Bishop of London,sometimes visited the great naturalist; and in 1699we find Mr. Petiver and the Rev. Adam Buddie,afterwards vicar of North Fambr
Size: 1044px × 2393px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectplants, bookyear1906
