CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 161 



certain and obvious characteristic notes of the genera, 

 that it shall not be difficult for any man who shall but 

 attend to them and the description, to find out infallibly 

 any plant that shall be ofiered to him, especially being 

 assisted by the figure of it. And, lastly, because no man 

 of our nation hath lately attempted such a work; and 

 those that formerly did, excepting Dr. Turner, were not 

 sufficiently qualified for such an undertaking, and so have 

 acquitted themselves accordingly. 



I wish I had assurance from eye-witnesses of credit, 

 that those sorts of linen you mention are made of nettle- 

 stalks. I have heard and read the like of Scotch cloth, 

 but dare not give credence to it, because I find not 

 that Dr. Sibbalds, in his ' Prodromus,' makes any men- 

 tion of it, and am loth to put in anything on uncertain 

 rumour. 

 Black Notley, Feb. 11, —84. 



Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray's last Letter. 



Sir, — Por the Polypodium plumosum, I can tell you 

 but very little of it, except that it had its name from its 

 leaves being like feathers. Its place of growth, and other 

 things relating to its history, can scarce be told by any 

 in England ; for I think it is sent us from Holland, and 

 probably may come to them from the East Indies, 

 though I cannot say that positively. It is a perennial 

 plant, and has endured this last winter without being 

 either in pot or greenhouse. 



I was the other day at Chelsea, and find that the arti- 

 fices used by Mr. Watts have been very effectual for the 

 preservation of his plants, insomuch, that this severe 

 enough winter has scarce killed any of his fine plants. 

 One thing I much wonder to see that the Cedrus Montis 

 Lihani [Pinus Cedrus, Linn.], the inhabitant of a very 

 different climate, should thrive here so well, as, without 



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