'Ihe PREFAC E, 



ing, and the unwillingncfs that naturally is 

 in niany Gardiners to look back on authors 

 and books that relate to their profellion, 

 cannot be enough lamented, becaufe they 

 might at all leifure hours, and when their 

 time is too often but indiftercntly employed, 

 improve themfelves by reading the works 

 of thofe men of learning and judgment that 

 have gone before, in order to try farther 

 experiments, and reduce all to pradice. 



A Cato^ Varro^ and Collumella^ in what 

 language foever amongft the antients; a 

 Bacon, Evelyn, and a Piatt, with many 

 others amongft the moderns, with thofe 

 books and herbals that have given an ac- 

 count of the names, properties, and virtues 

 of plants, would improve their minds, and 

 implant a much greater love and affedion 

 to their employs, than generally is found 

 amongft them ; in fliort, it would not on- 

 ly improve their minds, but their difpofi- 

 tions, I had almoft {aid manners too, and 

 reduce them into fuch an ceconomy as 

 would make them fit company for men of 

 fenfe and learning ; on the contrary, how 

 often do we fee fome of them (in good 

 places too) that never open a book ; nor 

 can they either read, fpell, or pronounce 

 rightly, the very plants and herbs they eve- 

 2 ry 



