( 193 ) 
CHAP. 42. 
Rife cf Botany in Ireland — Boate — Heaton — 
Silliard — Molyneux — Lihwyd and Sherard, 
all prior to Thrclkeld. 
Memoirs of Threlkcld — His Synopfis Stirpium 
Hibernicarum — An account of that work'-* 
Ireland not fufficiently examined, 
Keogh'j Herbal — ^SmithV County Hifiories. 
IRISH BOTANY. 
JRELAND has been fo little diftln- 
guiflied for the produftion of vv^riters 
on the fabjefl: of thefe Iketches, that it has 
not been in my power, till this late period, 
to introduce to the reader's notice, any pro- 
feffed work on the Flora of that kingdom. 
The diftraded ftate of the country, during 
a great part of the laft century, had doubt- 
lefs no fmall fhare in retarding the progrefs 
of learning and fcience among the IriJJ:, It 
does not appear, that, until the middle of 
that period, any enquiries had been made 
even into the natural hiftory of the country 
in general. 
Vol. IL O Gerard 
