X % PREFACE. 



This letter, which was read to the Society the 2d 

 of May, 1751, with some ingenious observations on 

 -the same subject, by Dr Watson F. R. S. to whom 

 it was addressed *, has established the fact, attested by 

 the ancients, concerning the Palm-tree, which some 

 may perhaps have looked on as fabulous ; and as 

 the fructification in other vegetables, though it may 

 differ in particular circumstances, has yet in general 

 a manifest conformity with that of the Palm-tree, in 

 respect to the parts supposed to be the organs of ge- 

 neration, which are discoverable either on the same, 

 or on a separate flower, in all but the class Cryptoga- 

 mia, where they are too minute for observation ; so 

 from this single experiment we may fairly draw an 

 argument by analogy ; for the confirmation of the 

 whole sexual hypothesis ; but there are, as has been 

 said, other, and better proof. We have already di- 

 rected the reader to those stated by Linnasus ; whoever 

 desires farther satisfaction concerning this point, may 

 see the several demonstrations collected, and methodi- 

 cally connected in the Sponsalia Plantarum of J. Gu- 

 stavus Wahlbloom, published in the Amoenitates 

 Academics at Leyden in 1749- 



Having thus explained, as far as seems necessary, 

 the new principles upon which the reformation of 

 the former vicious systems of Botany has been under- 

 taken by the later Botanists, we come to shew, as we 

 proposed, the method that has been followed in this 

 Introduction to the Science. 



The work is divided into three parts, and each 

 part into sundry chapters. The subject of each chap- 

 ter may be seen in the table of contents prefixed to 

 the work ; but with respect to the three parts, as no 

 title or head explanatory of the matter each contains 

 could be conveniently prefixed to them, it will be 

 proper to explain here the scope of this divi- 

 sion. 



Vegetables, 



* Printed also in the Philosophical Transactions with the 

 letter, 



