PREFACE. 



xxxiii 



Contemns not rue^ nor sage's humble leaf. 



Close neighbouring : th' Herefordian plant 



Caresses freely the contiguous peach. 



Hazel, and weight-resisting palm, and likes 



T' approach the quince, and the elder's pithy stem ; 



Uneasy, seated by funereal yew. 



Or walnut (whose malignant touch impairs 



All generous fruits), or near the bitter dews 



Of cherries." 



J. Philips. 



It is less a matter of surprise that men should 

 not be able to explain these things, than that they 

 should know so much as they do on these subjects ; 

 and that they should be able, in some instances, to 

 improve upon nature herself. 



" Et ssepe alterius ramos impune videmus 

 Vertere in alterius, mutatamque insita mala 

 Ferre pyrum, et prunis lapidosa rubescere corna. 



* ->r * -5^- * * 



Inseritur vero ex foetu nucis arbutus horrida, 

 Et steriles platani malos gessere valentes, 

 Castanea fagos, ornusque incanuit albo 

 Flore pyri, glaridemque sues fregere sub ulmis. 



Nec modus inserere, atque oculos imponere simplex. 

 Nam qua se medio tradunt de cortice gemmae, 

 Et tenues rumpunt tunicas, angustus in ipso 

 Fit nodo sinus : hue aliena ex arbore germen 

 Includunt, udoque docent inolescere libro. 

 Aut rursum enodes trunci resecantur, et alte 

 Finditur in solidum cuneis via ; deinde feraces 

 Plantse immittuntur : nec longum tempus, et ingens 



C 



