6 An IntroduSiion to 



culture, greatly alter the appearance of plants^ 

 fo there are too many, who from a fondnefs 

 of {hewing their great nicety in diftinguifhing, 

 are apt to make fpecies of fcveral plants, which 

 are only accidental variations -, while others, on 

 the contrary, are as ready to fuppofe many 

 plants which agree in fome particular charac- 

 ters, are only accidental variations ; and it muft 

 be confelTed, that the learned author whofe fyf- 

 tem we here adopt, is of this number ; for in 

 all his books where he has enumerated the 

 fpecies of plants, he has joined by way of 

 fynnnim many plants as varieties of the 

 fpecies, which are always conftant in their eflen- 

 tial charaders, when propagated by feeds, be 

 the foil or fituation ever fo different : but this 

 may be readily excofed ; for as he has not had 

 experience enough in the culture of plants, 

 to know how far, that with the difference of 

 foiis and fuuations will alter the appearances of 

 plants, fo it cannot be expected he fhould be 

 perfedt in an article, which requires many 

 years trial and obfervation to determine. Nor 

 has this learned author lived long enough in a 

 country, where he might have opportunities to 

 fee and examine the plants growing ; fo has 

 been obliged to form great part of his fyflem 

 from dried famples of the plants, which tho* 

 6 they 



