( vii ) 
II. The dif covering the qualities and ufes of our 
own native Vegetable productions , and applying 
them to the mqfl ufeful purpofes. Our extent of 
luxuriant unexplored territory, is an object 
which here in a particular manner occurs re- 
plete with promifing advantages. Our being 
able to difcover a plant of equal general ufage 
with the Potatoe , Tobacco , or Gin) eng ; or good 
fubftitutes for Tea, Coffee and Peruvian Bark ; 
would be advantages furpaffing all adequate 
eftimation. 
It is true, we may gain by tedious experi- 
ence, or ftumble by chance upon many ufeful 
difcoveries reflecting the ufes and medicinal 
virtues of plants, but it is from our obferva- 
tions and refearches founded upon, and di- 
rected by, a knowledge of Botany , that we can 
alone hope for certain fuccefs. From the 
writings of the celebrated Linn^us this gene- 
ral rule is fufficiently eftablifhed ; that plants 
of the fame habit and appearance, and thofe 
which agree in the difpofition of their flowers 
and fruit, have likewife fimilar virtues and 
properties. From this obfervation we deduce 
an obvious inference ; that the more general 
knowledge we obtain of the characters and 
appearance of plants, the more likely we fhall 
be alfo to encreafe our knowledge of their vir- 
tues, qualities and ufes. 
This fubjeCt has been much urged and long 
dwelt upon from a conviction of its impor- 
tance and promifing advantages : the author, 
influenced by thefe conflderations, and from 
a belief 
