( vii ) 



IL The dif covering the qualities and ufes of our 

 oivn native Vegetable produ^ions^ and applying 

 them to the moft ufeful purpofes. Our eittent of 

 luxuriant unfexplored territory, is an objedl 

 which here in a particular manner occurs re- 

 plete with promifing advantages. Our being 

 able to difcover a plant of equal general ufage 

 with the Potatoe^ Tobacco^ or Ginfeng ; or good 

 fubftitutes for Tea^ Coffee and Peruvian Bark; 

 would be advantages furpaffing all adequate 

 eftimation. 



It is true, we may gain by tedious experi- 

 ence, or ftumble by chance upon many ufeful 

 difcoveries refpedling the ufes and medicinal 

 virtues of plants, but it is from our obferva- 

 tions and refearches founded upon, and di- 

 redled by, 3. knowledge of Botany^ that we can 

 alone hope for certain fuccefs. From the 

 writings of the celebrated Linnaeus this gene- 

 ral rule is fufEciently eftablifhed ; that plants 

 of the fame habit and appearance, and thofe 

 which agree in the difpofition of their flowers 

 and fruit, have likewife firailar virtues and 

 properties* From this obfervation we deduce 

 an obvious inference ; that the more general 

 knowledge we obtain of the charadlers and 

 appearance of plants, the more likely we fhall 

 be alfo to encreafe ovir knowledge of their vir- 

 tues, qualities and ufes. 



This fubje6l has been much urged and long 

 dwelt upon from a convidlion of its impor- 

 tance and promifing advantages : the author, 

 influenced by thefe confiderations, and from 



a belief 



