Pbihfopbical History of Plants. 5 
their ufe, in fuch particular Trades and Manufulnres, al- 
em: and the difcovery of other ufes yet unknown. As alfo 
their Alimental, with refpect both to Meats and Drinks; the prepara- 
tion of fome, and the finding out of others. But efpecially their Me- 
dicinal 3 fome Plants which have hitherto been negleéted, may be ap- 
plied to ufe; the Perverted ufes of fome, and the Confufed ules of 
others, may be rectified. What may beft corre& their Malignancies, 
or inforce their Virtues; When needful to add the preparations of Art 
to That of Nature; How toEnlarge thofe of Art, and Rediifie thofe 
which are indeed Inartificial, may hereby be better conjectured. The 
knowledge of all which, that we may know how farit is acceffible, 
and what probable Approaches may be made towards it; thofe fève- 
ral Means I have thought of, and füppofe neceflary thereunto,are next 
to be propofed. s R 
9. $. Reflecting then upon the prefent Defign, and feeing this to 
lie wide; we fhall, in the firft place, conélude the Means attending 
thereon, fhould do fo likewife. Wherefore, although fome may pre- 
fent themfelves unto us as more promifing 5 yet let us fuppofe what 
{veral Perfons, were they hereunto ehgaged, each according to his 
Senfe and Genius, would poffibly make choice of, Believing, that 
although Confidering Men may vary, in the approval of their own 
Senfe and Notion; yet not always mearly, becaufe it is their owns 
but becaufe each, may probably {ce fomewhat more in his own, than 
others do. Wherefore it will be our fureft Logick to conclude, Not 
becaufe no Mean may be approved by all Men, that all Means fhould 
be rejected ; but rather, becaufe each may be approved by fome,that 
therefore, all be made choice of. And thefe, I think, may be compre- 
hended under Five General Heads of Erquiry. Firft, Of tho Things, 
which are of more External Confideration about Plants, astheir Fi- 
gures, Ge. Secondly, OF their Compounding Parts, as Vafels, e, 
Thirdly, OF their Liquors, and other Contents. Fourthly, Of their 
Principles, as Salts,G-c. Fifibly, OF their Aliment, as Water, and other 
Means of Growth. 
to. $. AND FIRST ofall, whatever is of more External Con- The Firft 
fideration, as the Figures, Proportions, Motions, Seafons, Situations of General 
Vegetables, and of their feveral Parts, fhould be obferved. In doing Mean. 
which, a particular fürvey of all their Varieties fhould be taken. And 
then a Comparifon made betwixt thefe,and the feveral Plants,or Parts 
of Plants, whereofthey are the Properties. To the end, We may, if 
pofüble, be thereby conduéted to find out, what other, either fenfi- 
ble, or more reclufé Property, any of them may agree together in. For 
it isnot morecertain, that the three Angles of every Redilinear Trian- 
gle, becaufe all ways equal to two Right Angles, are therefore, if put 
together, always the fame + than that ove Property, agreeing to divers 
Vegetables, fhould have one Canfe: For although the Scope and End 
may vary; yetthe Canfe, as it isthe Canfe of that Property, mutt be 
one: and confequently, muft alfo import fome Identity in the Nature 
of all thofe Vegetables wherein it Ads. Wherefore by thus comparing 
of them, we thall be able more exactly to ftate the Orders and Degrees 
oftheir Affinities 3 Better to underftand both the Canfes and Ends of 
= Varieties : And more probably to conjecture of their Natures and 
Pertnes, 
Ca 11.5. Firft 
