254 INTRODUCTION. 



on the fide of the page, not meaning that any- 

 one fhould thence imagine that the flowers will 

 return every year on the fame day and month, 

 but with intent to fet forth the calendar of that 

 individual year, and that it might appear with 

 what diligence and circumfpedion it was made. 



In order to diflinguifh the cultivated plants 

 from the wild, i have ufed italics for the firft, 

 and have marked the plants which appear to be 

 moil prognoftic by an aflerifk *. 



I have befides thought fit to difpofe them all 

 into months, according to a divifion the apteft 

 1 could contrive •, but i did not think it necefTary 

 to form equal months, as my defign was not to 

 determine days, but chiefly and indeed only the 

 greater or lefTer acceleration of fummer. 



Having fo accurately obferved the flowers, i 

 thought fit to add the times at which the animal 

 kii^dom undergoes certain alterations, fuch as 

 when birds of pafTage come and go, when birds 

 of every kind lay, or hatch, or moult, when fe- 

 veral kinds of fifhes celebrate their nuptials near 

 the fea Hiore, when it is fowing time, when grain 

 fiov/ers, ripens, &c. 



By the help of fuch obfervations we may at 

 laft come to knov/ what is to be done, or ob- 

 ferved, every day, by the flowering of plants. 

 But much time is required to bring this to per- 

 fedlion ; and he who obferves, mufl, if he means 

 to do any thing to the purpofe, live in the coun- 

 trey, where it is mxich eaiier to fee every thing 

 that prefents itfelf. 



« 



Inllead of an afleriik i have ufed o;reat letters, 



to' 



If 



