The P R E F A C E 
M 
tbe Ime Soft fent tbem for nsbich they mite, upon iis appearing lo be tbt 
fime <mitb nubat ibey be/ore bad, they prefenlly conclude Ibat tbe Nurfery Man 
nubo fipplicd tbem, icas eilber a Knave or a Rlockbead, neben in Reality tbe 
Faull neas ibeir obi», in depending too mucb upon ibeir Aulbors Nane, ncilbout 
examining nsbetber it pafsd under more Nomes tban one amongfl tbe Gardeners. 
IT neas a Remori of a late excellent Autbor, “ Tbat Men in Ibeir fenera! Aris 
“ and Pnfejjons, in nebieb they bove been educated, and exercis'd tbemfihes all 
“ ibeir Days, nnifi be fipposd lo bove a gr caler Kncnsledge and Expcricncc, tban 
“ otbers can nfially bove ; and l here fore, if tbro' Want of Capacity or HoneJIy 
" they do nol eilber tofe, or belie tbcir Opportnnilies and Expcricnce, ibey are in 
“ refietl of tbofi Tbings, to nsbich they bave been bred and inured, more to be 
“ relied upon." As to tbe firf of tbefe, viz. ottr Capacilies, nve mujl fubmit to tbe 
Judgments of our Redders, but nsitb Rcgard to tbe laller, ace can po/itively fiy, 
tbat Ihere are nol any Rides or DirclUons berein given, but nebat bave fmcccded 
nsitb us, upon frveral repeated Tryals and Obfervations. 
A s B jorafimeb as tbere are nenv Kinds annually iniroduced iulo tbe Englith 
Gardens, (efpetially tbofe near London ) from different ‘Parts of tbe World, tbere 
neas Reafon lo fear tbat ibe Ccmfufnn neotdd Jlill be grealer, tmlefs fime Care neas 
taken lotb lo reform tbe former Error s, and alfi to compare fucb Tbings as Jboutd 
be received from abroad, nsitb tbofe already in tbe Englifli Gardens, and lo 
difeover nebere tbe rea / Differente (if any) lay, and to take Notice in nebat Parii- 
atlars it did conjff. 
For tbe beller carrying on ibis Tdejign, a cerlain Number of Gardeners 
fituated near tbe City of London, nebo may be prefumed lo bave as great Variety 
of all tbe different Kinds of Trees, Sbrubs, Planis, Flonccrs, and Fruils, in 
ibeir PtffeJJiou, as any Set of Gardeners of ibeir Number in England (or perbaps 
in Europe) can boafl of, came lo a mutuat Agreement lo meet togetber Monthly at 
fime Places convenieuily fituated-, at nebieb monlbly Meeting, eaeb Perfon of tbe 
Socieiy brougbt all Ibe feveral Kinds of Plants, Flowers, and Fruits 01 ibeir 
various Seafbns, nebieb ivere tbere examined and comparcd by all tbe Perfons 
prefenl, nel-o entered donvn in a Regiffer tbe Names, I TUfcriptions, Scc. of ait tbe 
various Kinds nebieb icere from Time to Time brougbt. 
Having purfued this Melbod for tbe Space of Jive or fix Tears, tbe Socieiy 
al laff came to a Refilntion lo bave ibe various Kinds of Plants, Flowers, and 
Fruits dranen and painled by an able Hand, at ibeir oicn Expencc, nebieb being 
performed, tbere is none a very valuablc CoHcliion of tbofe Dransiugs in tbe Pof- 
feffion of tbe fiid Socieiy. 
This being done, Ibey came to a furtber Refilntion to publifb tbe Obfervations 
ibey bad made and minnted donvn from Time to Time, in tbe Regiffer of tbe Socieiy -, 
and baving fime Time deliberated concerning tbe Melbod of doivg it, it nvas ai 
lengtb refilved, tbat nse could nol do tbe Publici better Service tban lo maie a jiff 
Catalogne of all tbe various Trees, Plants, Flowers, and Fruits tbat ivere in tbe 
Ftffejfwn of tbe feveral Members of tbe Socieiy, and bad been at feveral Times 
produced and examined by tbem. 
A rfrJ! indeed, nae inleuded to do no more but give a Calalogue of ibeir Names 
in Latin and Englifli, propofing to treat of ibeir Culture aftcrnsards ; but nvbilc 
this Hejign usas purfuing, nve noere follietted by feveral eurum Perfons, to give a 
fhort Account of thtir Culture and Ufes, lo prevent tbe Trouble of turning from 
e ne Bank lo atiolber, lo find nsbat Jboutd be fiid of any parlicular Piant, &c. 
