

Philofopbical History of Plants. 5 
ee 

Reafon of their ufe, in fuch particular Trades and Atanufactures, al- 
ready known 5 and the difcovery of other ufes yet unknown. As alfo 
their Alizzental, with refpect both to Meats and Drinks; the prepara- 
tion of fome, and the finding out of others. But efpecially their Me- 
dicinal ; {ome Plants which have hitherto been neglected, may be ap- 
plied to ufe; the Perverted ufes of fome, and the Confufed ules of 
others, may be rectified. What may belt corre&t their Malignancies, 
or inforce their Virtues; When needful to add the preparations of Art 
to That of Nature; How toEnlarge thofe of Art, and Reifie thofé 
which areindeed Inartificial, may hereby be better conjectuted. The 
knowledge of all which, that we may know how far it is acceffible, 
and what probable Approaches may be made towards it; thofe {eve- 
ral Means I have thought of, and fuppofe neceflary thereunto,are next 
to be propofed. 
9. §. Reflecting then uponthe prefent Defign, and feeing this to 
lie wide; we fhall, in the firft place, conclude the Meas attending 
thereon, fhould do folikewife. Wherefore, although fome may pre- 
fent themfelves unto usas more promifing; yet let us fuppofe what 
feveral Perfons, were they hereunto engaged, each according to his 
Senfe and Genius, would poflibly make choice of. Believing, that 
although Confidering Men may vary, in the approval of their own 
Senfe and Notion; yet not always mearly, becaufe it is their owns 
but becaufe each, may probably {ce fomewhat more in his own, than 
others do. Wherefore it will be our fureft Logick to conclude, Not 
becaufe no Mean may be approved by all Men, that all Means fhould 
be rejected , but rather, becaufe each may be approved by fome,that 
therefore, all be made choice of, And thefe, Ithink, may be compre- 
hended under Five General Heads of Enquiry. Firf?, Of thofe Things, 
which are of more Exterval Confideration about Plants, astheir F7- 
gures, Gc. Secondly, OF their Compounding Parts, as Veffels, ae. 
Thirdly, Of their Liquors, and other Contents. Fourthly, OF their 
Principles, as Salts,G-c. Fifthly, Of their Aliment, as Water, and other 
Means of Growth. 5 
to. ¢. AND FIRST ofall, whatever is of more Exterwal Con- The Firf 
fideration, asthe Figures, Proportions, Motions, Seafons, Situations of General 
Vegetables, and of their feveral Parts, fhould be obferved. In doing Mean: 
which, a particular furvey of all their Varieties fhould be taken. And 
then a Comparifon made betwixt thefe,and the feveral-Plavts, or Parts 
of Plants, whereofthey are the Properties. Tothe end, Wemay, if 
poffible, be thereby conducted to find out, what other; either fenfi- 
ble, or more reclufe Property, any of them may agree together in. For 
it isnot more certain, that the three Angles of every Redilinear Trian- 
gle, becaufe all ways equal to two Right Angles, are therefore, if put 
together, always the fame - than that ove Property, agreeing to divers 
Vegetables, fhould have one Caufe: For although the Scope and Exd 
may vary; yetthe Cane, as it isthe Cane of that Property, muft be 
one: and confequently, muft alfo import fome Identity in the Nature 
of all thofe Vegetables wherein it Acts. Wherefore by thus comparing 
of them, we fhall be able more exatly to ftate the Orders and Degrees 
oftheir Affizities ; Better to underftand both the Caufes and Ends of 
their Varieties : And more probably to conjeCture of their Natures and 
Veriuess : 
a 6&2 * rz. §. Firft 













