INTRODUCTION. 9 



Anaxagoras* of Clazomene, Empedocles-}- of Agri- 

 gentum, and Democritus^ of Abdera ; who have not 

 indeed left behind them any writings on the subject ; 

 but whose opinions and doctrines are recorded by 

 succeeding philosophers. 



To the above primitive and patriarchal names, dis- Hlppocra- 

 tinguishable for the institution of a species of phy- A. C. 

 tological investigation, calculated to excite farther 4( 

 inquiry, the next that succeeds in order of time, at 

 least as extending the limits of botanical research, 

 is that of Hippocrates, illustrious for the introduc- 

 tion of a new and enlightened method in the study 

 of medicine, founded upon principles deduced from 

 experience, and theory perfected by practice, by 



* Anaxagoras maintained that the seeds of all vegetables are 

 lodged in the utmophere from whence they descend, along with 

 the rain and dews, into the earth, where they mingle with the 

 soil, and spring up into plants. (Theoph. Ht{l Quran 'lo-r^iee.^ lib. iii.) 



f Empedocles appears to have advanced some heterodox JL^ 

 opinions on the subject of germination, maintaining that the dif- 

 ferent parts of the plant are not generated at the same time, but 

 in succession first the root, and then the stem and branches, 

 according to the season proper to each, (Iltp Qvrw 'la-repots, 

 lib. iii.) He is said also to have attributed sexes to plants, and 

 to have maintained, along with Anaxagoras, that plants are en- 

 dowed not only with life and sensation, but also with desires and 

 passions similar to those of animals. (Arist. np* QVTUI., lib. i.) 



\ Dcmocritus seems to have instituted an inquiry into the 

 cause of vegetable tastes and odours, which he attributes to the 

 form of the primitive particles of which plants respectively 

 consist, (rJipj Q'jroit 'Away, lib. iv.) 



