PREFACE. IX 



A second edition of Ray's Synopsis, considerably 

 enlarged, appeared in 1696, consisting of 346 pages. 

 As this is the most accurate and most valuable work 

 of its immortal author, the foundation of every sub- 

 sequent English Flora, and scarcely equalled in any 

 age or country for correctness of practical observa- 

 tion, it cannot be too frequently studied by those 

 who wish to trace the origin and progress of our in- 

 digenous Botany; to ascertain the aborigines of our 

 Flora ; to become acquainted with the persons who 

 first cultivated this department of science, in En- 

 gland, and with the principal scenes which they 

 have now rendered classical ; as well as with the 

 manner in which their studies were conducted, in 

 the closet or the field. It will be observed that nei- 

 ther Ray nor any other writer, at this time, attempted 

 uniformity of nomenclature, or any regular plan of 

 definition. Each plant is mentioned under one or 

 more descriptive appellations, taken from various 

 books, being probably such as Ray himself judged 

 most likely to give, collectively, a just idea of the 

 species in question. Even Caspar Bauhin, who 

 had published a universal synoptical work, as an in- 

 dex to all the botanical knowledge then extant, is 

 not quoted uniformly. His names are generally in- 

 dicated, but they do not take the lead. New species 

 are introduced under original definitions ; and in- 

 deed there are few of the old ones which the author 

 has not elucidated by some remark, wherever he 

 found occasion. The pages, or figures, of preceding 

 authors are not indicated by Ray. This was soon 

 afterwards practised by Tournefort, and is now be- 

 come indispensable. Ray appears to have examined 



