Kalm's account of his visit to England : on his way to America in 1748 / translated by Joseph Lucas ; with two maps and several illustrations.

  • Pehr Kalm
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Kalm's account of his visit to England : on his way to America in 1748 / translated by Joseph Lucas ; with two maps and several illustrations. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    IO9 light on the subject, and just as they have been related to me by trustworthy men. Mr. Miller’s father was a Nurseryman, who followed that occupation all his life, and in the Practique of it had gone a long way. He had begun to instruct his son, this Philip Miller, in the art from his earliest years, and was in this so much the more lucky, that his son had an uncommon liking for that occupation. As the man throve, so he spared no expense in also causing his son to have a sufficient education in various languages, and other Sciences, which profit and adorn a man. Miller quickly assimilated all that his father had himself taught him, both in Theorie and Praxi, of orna- mental and kitchen gardening. At the same time he went through all books which had appeared in England on these Sciences. An industrious intercourse with other enterprising nurserymen in this [T. I. p. 459] town and in the country round made him still more proficient. But he did not stop with this. A change of soil, climate, &c, often causes a plant which can, according to ordinary rules, be transplanted at one place, not to admit of this being accomplished with the same advantage at another place, but a particular treatment is often required at each place. His thoughts were therefore turned upon travelling. He was well off, and had therefore no difficulty in accom- plishing this. To travel out to foreign countries without having first made himself acquainted with what remark- able things there are to be found at home, he held neither for wisdom nor usefulness. He therefore tra- velled through the greater part of England, observing everything, but was especially careful to inspect all ornamental and kitchen gardens, and to make himself at home and acquainted with all horticulturists, for he was of the opinion that he could get to learn something useful which he did not know before, at least from some of them. He conversed with them on all matters con-
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