xvi MEMOIRS OF THE 
Pharmacopzias, and many possess, very poisonous quali- 
ties ; to be acquainted with these at least, is the duty of 
every one that takes on himself the important character of 
guardian of the health of mankind. 
But it is not to physic alone that Botany is subser- 
vient ; perhaps it is applied with as much advantage to 
Agriculture, which is still extremely defective. In this 
enlightened age, when arts and sciences are carried to a 
pitch unthought of in former times, we might expect a 
nation celebrated not less for its arts than its arms, would 
be the first to promote a science, whose improvements are 
the only solid check to the baneful and enervating effects 
of luxury and dissipation ; and, accordingly, we find many 
of our nobility, gentlemen of landed property, and public 
societies, fully aware of its importance, and endeavouring 
by premiums, and a variety of other means, to improve it. 
Much, however, still remains to be done; nor is it probable 
that their endeavours will be crowned with success, till 
Botany is more cultivated, and plants, particularly the 
Grasses, better understood. 
** How incapable most of our modern writers on 
agriculture are, of communicating their discoveries for 
want of botanic information, and how much the progress 
of this most useful science is thereby retarded, must be 
obvious to all those who have perused their writings with 
any degree of attention. 
** | am inclined to suppose, that this inattention of the 
faculty and others to Botany proceeds, in a great measure, 
from a want of opportunity to acquire it ; and that if the 
means were afforded, there would no longer be cause of 
complaint or censure. 
* 'To afford the means of obtaining this knowledge is 
the object of the present institution ;—an institution 
which has been attended with considerable expence, and 
cost the author much time and attention. Should he have 
