lO INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS 



numerous tribe both of the herbaceous flower- 

 ing plants, and the woody or fhrubby and 

 tree kinds, each defcribed under their proper 

 heads ; but fhall firll proceed with the herba- 

 ceous tribe in different divifions, according to, 

 their temperature and nature of growth ; pre- 

 vioufly remarking that the herbaceous flower- 

 ing plants, i.e. plants of an herb like nature, 

 differ from the woody, or ftirub and tree 

 kinds, in that they are in the moil part,, both 

 of inferior growth in refped to dimenfions, 

 and produce foft flems, not durable as in 

 trees and flirubs, but moUly die down to 

 the ground every Autumn, and renewed in 

 the Spring with young ftems from the root ; 

 hence they are of the nature of herbs, (her- 

 baceous) very few, however, retain their ftems 

 two or three years : and, in the annual her- 

 baceous tribe, they wholly, ftem and root> 

 decay the fame year the plants are raifed, 

 which, and the biennial or two years plants, 

 require to be raifed every year in fucceflional 

 fupplies from feed ; and the perennials, or 

 plants of many years duration, are raifed 

 both from feed occafionally, in many forts, 

 and being durable in the root, of feveral or 

 many years continuance, they alfo propagate 

 by off-fets, Sec. of the continuing root, fome 

 raifed alio by layers and cuttings ; but the 

 woody, or tree and flirub kinds once raifed, 

 are abiding in root, ftem, and branches, en- 

 creafing in growth in the greater part, for 

 many years, and fome trees continue growing 

 feveral centuries, of which the oak and; chef- 

 nut. 



