Page:The American naturalist. (IA mobot31753002156567).pdf/91

1876.] Paper, a very important object for collections, has been known since the beginning of culture in the East, but the use of it became gradually less and less, on account of heavy taxes upon it, from the beginning of the Christian era to the sixth century, and in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries the use of it was nearly forgotten. Cotton paper was carried by Arabs to North Africa in the tenth century, and two centuries later to Spain. Curiously enough the manufacture of linen paper was discovered through an intentional fraud. People first tried to make cheaper cotton paper by the introduction of linen rags, and very soon observed that the paper was greatly improved by this addition. Of course the manufacture with linen rags alone gave a more perfect paper, and was retained. This was probably first manufactured in Germany, as there exist old deeds in Bavaria on linen paper from the year 1318. Paper mills existed in 1341 in France, and later in Nurnberg, Holland, Basle, and Switzerland. Some mills existed in England, but produced only packing-paper; till 1690 all writing and printing paper was imported from Holland. It is sure that at the end of the fifteenth century linen paper was everywhere used, and cheap enough to displace the costly parchment. It is obvious that the common use of paper was a great advantage to every student. Botanical collections were only possible when the preservation of dried plants could be afforded. Just at this time the name herbarium, with its present meaning, seems to have originated.

Before this time, objects of natural history accompanied only by chance the more valuable objects of trade. Now science seemed suddenly to be awakened, or rather new-born. Every one was in haste to study the new objects, never seen before, and arriving in great numbers from newly-discovered countries. It was a natural consequence that those of the old country should be compared with the new ones, and every student was surprised to find so much around him that he had never known before.

Conrad Gesner, a naturalist from Switzerland, a student of vast erudition and clear judgment, may be considered the renovator of natural science. History begins a new volume with his name, and his works are for the next centuries of the same importance as those of Albertus Magnus for earlier times. Gesner began in a right and sensible way to study thoroughly the common objects nearest him, and by this means was enabled to understand more easily those from foreign lands with different features.