C m 3 
Gefner , Cordus> c Dodonens, Lobel , Taberneinontanns> 
Hortus Aichftadienfis of Bajil Befler , Clufms , C a/par 
John Bauhin, Morrijf on. Tour ne fort, and others, 
who have lived fince them, either as they have dis- 
covered a new Plant, or illuftrated an old one with a 
new Dcfcription, Figure, or Chara&er. With regard 
to Method, he fays he might have difpofed them 
alphabetically, followed Boerhaaves Method, or 
Linneus’s, but was fearful of making unnatural Diftor- 
tionsj efpecially as he was not writing an univerfal 
Hiftory of Plants. He thinks it not at all proper to 
difpofe Plants in the fame Clafs, unle fs their Affinity 
isperfedt; and Jays it down as a Foundation, upon 
which alone a natural Method can be formed, that 
however different Plants may feem in one Charadter- 
iftic, thofe fhould be placed together which agree 
in moft others ; and however alike they may be in * 
one Point, that thofe be feparated which differ in 
many others. The Negledt of this Axiom has made 
all Methods unnatural. 
The Author then apologizes for giving new 
Names to fome Plants, but he could not omit in- 
ferring fome that were more expreffive, and give 
them the Preference to old ones, that imported little 
or nothing, although they had the Sanction of Anti- 
quity ; but he fcarce ever has changed the generical 
Names, becaufe amongft things that are in them Pelves' 
indifferent, Cuftom fhould be always complied with ; 
and as all generical Names are arbitrary, fcarce any 
can be thought of to contain enough to diffinguifh the 
Plant by; but the fpecific Name ought to be a Ihort 
Definition and Compendium of its niccfl Differences : 
And although this may fometimes be thought too 
