T II E 
PRE F A G E 
OI NCE the Times of Thco- 
phraftus, Ariftotle, and Diofco- 
rides, the firft Writers on Plants 
upon Record , that SubjeSl has heen 
largely canvafs'd by a great Multi- 
tude of learned and eminent Authors ; 
but in a very different Manner. 
Theophraftus treated of their Diffe- 
rence and Natures by their Parts , 
Affections, Generation , and Rife : 
But Dio fcor ides handles each Kind in 
particular , gives their Names , De- 
fcriptions , Places inhere they grow , 
and their Virtues ; fo that he is the 
oldeff regular W riter now extant : 
Yet he has omitted the Defcriptions 
of fome of the mo ft generally 'known 
in his Country , at that dune • as the 
A 2 Oak, 
