INTRODUCTION. 
3£i 
papaya feems fupercilious with all the harmony of 
beauty and gracefulnefs ; the Liliurn fuperbum re- 
prefents pride and vanity ; Kalmia latifolia and Aza- 
lea coccinea, exhibit a perfedt fhow of mirth and 
gaiety; the Illicium Floridanum, Crinum Florida- 
num, Convallaria majalis of the Cherokees, and 
Calyeanthus floridus, charm with their beauty and 
fragrance. Yet they are not to be compared for 
ufefulnefs with the nutritious Triticum, Zea, Oryza, 
Solanum tuberofum, Mufa, Convolvulus Batata, 
Rapa, Orchis, Vitis vinifera, Pyrus, Olea; for cloth- 
ing with Linum Cannabis, GofiTypium, Morus ; for 
medicinal virtues with Hyflbpus, Thymus, Anthemis 
nobilis, Papaver fcmniferum, Quinquina, Rheum 
rhabarbarum, Pifum, &c. Though none of thefe 
moft ufeful tribes are confpicuous for ftatelinefs, 
figure, or fplendour, yet their valuable qualities and 
virtues excite love, gratitude, and adoration to the 
great Creator, who was pleafed to endow them with 
inch eminent qualities, and reveal them to us for our 
fuilenance, amufement, and delight. 
But there remain of the vegetable world feve- 
ral tribes that are difdnguifhed by very remarkable 
properties, which excite our admiration, feme for 
the elegance, fmgularity, and fplendour of their veil- 
merit, as the Tulipa, Fritillaria, Colchicum, Pri- 
mula, 'Lilium fuperbum, Kalmia, &c. : others 
afiioniih us by their figure and diipofal of their vefe 
ttire, as if deligned only to embellifh and pleafe 
the obierver, as the Nepenthes diftillatoria, Ophrys 
infectoria, Cypripedium calceolus, Hydrangia quer- 
cifolia, Baytramia bracleata. Viburnum Canadenfe, 
Bartfia, &c. 
Obferve thefe green meadows how they are de- 
corated ; they fee m enamelled with the beds of 
flowers. The blufhing Chironia and Rhexia, the 
b 2 Ipiral 
