The Preface. ix 



from them. However I may falljhort 

 at jirji fetting out in this Jlatical way 

 of inquiring into the nature of Plants^ 

 yet there is good reafon to believe, that 

 conjiderable advances in the knowledge 

 of their ?iature may, in procefs of time, 

 be made by refearches of this kind. 



And I hope the publication of this 

 Specimen of what I have hitherto do?te y 

 will put others upo?t the fame purfuits, 

 there beings in fo large a feld y and 

 among fuch a?i innumerable variety of 

 fubje&Sy abunda?it room for many heads 

 and hands to be employed in the work : 

 For the wonderful andfecret operations 

 of Nature are fo involved and intricate, 

 fo far out of the reach of our fenfes, as 

 they prefent themf elves to us in their na- 

 tural order, that it is impojpble for the 

 mofl fagacious and penetrat'mg Genius 

 to pry into them, unlefs he will be at the 

 pains of analyfmg Nature by a ?iu7nerous 



a?id 



