The study of botany by the operatives about Manchester, at least in a precise and methodical manner, appears to date from the establishment of the Linnæan system, which was one hundred years ago. Doubtless the neighbourhood was already remarkable for its _love_ of plants, since men do not jump at things like the Linnæan system unless they have taste for them beforehand; but prior to the time of Linnæus, the difficulties attendant on botany as a science were too great for it to be anywhere a popular pastime. It was in Lancashire, without question, in life and power, though not in determined fact. There is reason to believe that botany, in some sort, was cultivated in Lancashire as far back as the time of Ray, who described, in his "Synopsis," nearly four-fifths of the British plants, and frequently refers to north-country botanists in connection with the localities of rare species. They were probably the originals of those keen observers and ardent cultivators whose succession has never yet intermitted. Ray's work made its first appearance in 1670. What is meant by the "Linnæan System" must be learnt from books devoted to its elucidation. It will suffice to say of it here that it established a method of classifying plants which gave it vantage, not only for successfully clearing the ground of difficulties which were fast becoming insuperable to smaller schemes and threatening the very existence of botany, but rendered everything intelligible and delightful. No really practical system had been devised previously to the time of Linnæus, and though his classes and orders are now superseded by the grander and profounder "Natural System," which it was Linnæus' own desire to arrive at--acknowledging his sexual or "Artificial System" to be but temporary and provisional,--when it appeared it may fairly be said to have made that live which before was dead or dying, and to have been the true inauguration of the science of botany.
The period referred to was, in round numbers then, fully one hundred years ago. No records are extant as to what was actually done here at that time, but the general fact that botany was ardently engaged in is well established. Old Crowther, who was born in 1768, was accustomed, when only nine years of age, to attend the meetings of a botanical society at Eccles, numbering, on the average, forty members,--the first society, in all likelihood, that was formed by the young Linnæans, and the same, it may be concluded, as that which in 1790, or thereabouts, had spread to Ashton, Oldham, Middleton, and many other places, holding fixed monthly meetings at the several towns and villages in rotation, and with which the proper "historical era" of botany in Manchester may be said to commence. The business of the meetings was to compare the floras of the several neighbourhoods, and to exchange plants and information in general on subjects connected with botanical science. A library of practical service was formed at a very early period. The members subscribed, and bought among other books the "Systema Naturæ," and "Species Plantarum," of Linnæus; Withering's "British Plants," and Lee's "Introduction to Botany," exchanging the volumes with one another on the days of meeting, and for several years everything went on pleasantly and usefully. With the close of the century, however, owing to infractions of the rules, the meetings were discontinued, and the society was abruptly dissolved.