7he P RE FA C E. 



Evelyn^ in his Acetdridy I fliall not en- 

 large upon it^ or repeat it again. 



I might alfo have confiderably enlarged 

 upon the properties and ufes of herbs, fal* 

 lets, and other edulous and hortulan pro- 

 ductions, in all medicinal and phyfical cafes, 

 and how greatly they contribute to the 



f prolongation of life ; but that I am con- 

 cious I have already exceeded the juft li- 

 mits of a Preface, on which account I 

 (hall add no more than what the judicious 

 Mr. Ray^ in his Hiftory of Plants, fets 

 downs. 



The ufe of plants (fays he) is alt our life 

 long of that nniverfal importance and con- 

 cern, that we can neither live nor fubfifl in 

 my plenty, with decency and convenienee, or 

 be faid indeed to live at all, without them ; 

 whatfoever contributes to delight and refrejh 

 us, are fnpplfd and brought forth out of 

 this plentiful md delightful ftore (f the Gar- 

 den. And oh 1 how much more innocent, 

 fweet and healthful is a table covefd with 

 thefe, than with all the reaking fejh of 

 hutchefd and Jlaughtefd animals! which, 

 I may add, fill mankind with all thofe dif- 

 cafes that, added to the misfortune of our. 

 climate, are the difinal occafion of fodden 

 death, at leaft, of a life ftiort uncer- 

 b tain^ 



