PREFACE. xi 



Should I be afk'd, why, contrary to the 

 prefent fafliion in works of this kind, I 

 chofe to write the defcriptions and ufes of 

 the plants in Englrjh rather than Latin f I 

 anfwer, to comply with the 7'equeji of my befi 

 friends. Neither do I think it anyobjed:ion 

 to the book, as it was written purely for 

 the ufe of my countrymen, who will under* 

 ftand it never the worfe for being in their 

 own tongue. 



> With the theory and technical terms of the 

 fexual fyll:em, and the manner how to in-^ 

 veftigate an unknown plant, the reader is 

 fuppofed to be acquainted before he takes 

 the Flora Scotica in hand. U he (hould be 

 totally ignorant of the elements of Botany, 

 and yet be defirous of knowing the names 

 and ufes of any native plants which may fall 

 in his way, I would beg leave firft to refer 

 him either to the Philofophia Botanica of. 

 Linnceus^ for a Latin inflrudlion in the firft 

 principles of the fcience, or to Lee's Intro^ 

 duBion to Botany, or 'Rofes Elements of 

 Botany for an Englijh one; after which I 

 flatter myfelf he will have little diffi- 

 culty, with the help of the Flora Scotica^ 



to 



