%g4 introduction. 
on the fide of the page, not meaning that any 
one fhould thence imagine that the flowers will 
return- every year on the fame day and month, 
but with intent to fet forth the calendar of that 
individual year, and that it might appear with 
what diligence and circumfpection it was made. 
In order to diftinguilh the cultivated plants 
from the wild, i have ufed italics for the firfl:, 
and have marked the plants which appear to be 
molt prognoftic by an afterifk *. 
I have befides thought fit to difpofe them all 
into months, according to a divifion the aptefl: 
i could contrive ; but i did not think it neceflary 
to form equal months, as my defign was not to 
determine days, but chiefly and indeed only the 
greater G r leffer acceleration of fummer. 
Having fo accurately obferved the flowers, i 
thought fit to add the times at which the animal 
kingdom undergoes certain alterations, fuch as 
when birds of paffage come and go, when birds 
of every kind lay, or hatch, or moult, when fe- 
veral kinds of fillies celebrate their nuptials near 
the fea Chore, when it is fowing time, when grain 
flowers, ripens, &c. 
By the help of fuch obfervations we may at 
Jaft come to know what is to be done, or ob- 
ferved, every day, by the flowering of plants. 
But much time is required to bring this to per- 
fection ; and he who^obferves, muft, if he means 
to do any thing to the purpofe, live in the coun- 
trey, where it is mucheafierto fee every thing 
that prefen ts itfelf. 
* Inflead of an aiteriik i have ufed great letters. 
If 
