[ 51 J 



fofe i and the fynonym is given, if it be different 

 from the prefent. Then follow the fynonyms of 

 the beft authors, and conftantly, where the plant is 

 at ail rare, or newly-difcovered, there is a reference 

 to the beft figures. The country in which the 

 plant grows is then added, and frequently a fym- 

 bol, expreffive of its duration, whether annual, 

 biennial, or perennial. 



In this work, for the firft time, the profefTor 

 has given to each plant, what he calls a trivial 

 name : that is, a fingle epithet, which may be ex- 

 preffive, as far as poffible, of the ejfential fpecific 

 difference, among the fpecies of the genus : this, 

 however, can take place but rarely in other in- 

 ftances it is expreffive of fome, the moft ftriking 

 and obvious difference ; and not feldom it is a lo- 

 cal term ; or the name of the firft difcoverer. The 

 latter method^ could it have taken place, would 

 have had the advantage of conveying, fomewhat 

 like a chronological hiftory of each plant, and at 

 the fame time perpetuating due credit to the dif- 

 coverer. Thefe trivial names are printed in the 

 margin, to catch the eye inftantly, which is a great 

 advantage. The invention of trivial names, the 

 hint of which was probably borrowed from Riviniy 

 by affifting the memory, has much promoted the 

 knowledge of plants, and muft be confidered as a 

 capital improvement. Their ufe in fpeaking of 

 plants, and forming compendious catalogues, has 

 been acknowledged by every botanift fince the 

 introdudtion of them. 



In the preface the author gives an ample ac- 

 count of the affiftances he received^ and of the 



E 2 pains 



I- 



