17S AN INTRODUCTION 



lections are either w ithout method, or disposed ac- 

 cording to such systems as have been exploded ; for 

 by what we have laid before them, he will be en- 

 abled to consult the productions of nature, and com- 

 pare them with what is delivered in the book ; 'or, 

 in other words, to mix the practice with the theory; 

 without which the study of this science would be 

 dry and tasteless, and the progress made in it of 

 little advantage. As we cannot but recommend this 

 useful amusement to the reader in the strongest 

 manner, so we shall attempt to assist him farther, 

 by a few hints for the methodizing of his en- 

 deavours. 



The first thing he would aim at, is to get a tho- 

 rough knowledge of the distinctions of the twenty- 

 four classes. In order to this, the first part of this 

 book should be previously perused, as the parts of 

 fructification are therein explained ; without which 

 the classes could not be understood. Then let him 

 gather some of the ordinary flowers, such as the 

 blossoms of the fruit-garden or kitchen ground, or 

 the ornamental flowers of his borders, and bring 

 them* by turns into his closet for examination, choos- 

 ing first the larger kinds, and such as naturally ex- 

 pand and discover the stamina 'and pistillum ; and 

 when he has accustomed himself to know the 

 parts of fructification in these easier kinds, he may 

 then try such as require being stript of their co- 

 vers, or dissected with a penknife, to discover their 

 inner parts, or whose minuteness requires the as- 

 sistance of a magnifying glass for the observing 

 them properly. The double flowers should be 

 avoided, as being unnatural. Having fixed on the 

 flower he would iirst examine, he will, by the help 

 of the tables, be informed of the class it belongs 

 to ; then turning to the chapter of the second part 

 of the book, which treats of that class, let him care- 

 fully read over the character there given of the 



