252 INTRODUCTION.- 



Every flower has its appointed feafon. It would 

 therefore be in vain for us to feek the fpring plants 

 in autumn, and the autumn plants in the fpring. 

 We fee them at flated times emerging, ftalking, 

 flowering, fruiting, decaying. Again in another 

 feafon we fee others rifing in their room, and that 

 in fo (hon a time, by fo regular and conftant a 

 law, according to the direction of their natures, 

 that it feems impolTible for any one to behold 

 this feries and variety, without the higheft ad- 

 miration. 



The fun at the fame tim.e that it raifes, as it 

 were, to life thefe beings, that are dellitute of 

 animal functions, brings them forth alfo fooner, 

 or later, according to the nature and difpohtion 

 of each, i. e. as this or that plant requires a leiTer 

 or a greater deg-ree of heat, before it can obtain 

 its juft maturity. For as eggs, difiering in fpe- 

 cies, when fit on by a hen, will not all be 

 hatched the fame day, but fome fooner, fonie 

 later, fo neither do fiovv'ers come forth together, 

 but at dated times, as they fhall have received 

 the degree of heat proper to their natures. 



Akho' tlie year v/as formed by the Creator in 

 fuch a n^ianner, as to be divided into diftind 

 parts, by the fun fending forth its rays equally 

 on the fvirface ©f the earth, yet we are not there- 

 fore from thence to define and mieafure the funi- 

 mer, the quantity of ice and fnow and Northern 

 colds hindering the air from being equally foon 

 warmed in dilterent years ; and according to the 

 heat of the air, the fcalbns are advanced or re- 

 tarded, and this is beft known and meafjred by 

 the various kinds of fiowers. 



^"ince tliercfofe tlie fummer feafon depends 



upon 



