The
First Statistical Account, 1792 - list of plants for Birnie Parish, by the
Rev Joseph Anderson. He concentrates very much on edible or economically
useful species, as does Lachlan Shaw.The First Statistical Account for Scotland (1792) includes short plant lists for each Parish. These lists were in most cases compiled by the Parish Minister or Schoolmaster. Many of the pioneering botanists of those days were ministers, doctors or schoolmasters, as you will see in the case of some of the people mentioned on other pages. As a result of their endeavours, and via the Statistical Accounts, we have records of plants for many Parishes including Birnie, Cromdale, Duffus, and Dyke. Since the purpose of the Statistical Account was very much an investigation of the social and economic state of the country at the time, the plant records relate particularly to those of economic importance such as crops and timber, and there are few notes of wild flowers other than these except as a passing interest.
The
First Statistical Account, 1792 - list of plants for Birnie Parish, by the
Rev Joseph Anderson. He concentrates very much on edible or economically
useful species, as does Lachlan Shaw.