
eAn Idea of a 













what manner the Seed is prepared, formed and fitted for Propagation : 
and this being of fo great concernment, how fometimes the other Parts 
alfo, as Roots, in putting forth Trunks 5 Trunks in putting forth Roots ; 
yea in turning oftentimes into Roots themfelves ; whereof, in the Se- 
cond Book of the Anatomy of Plants, I hall givefome inftances. With 
other Heads of Inquiry of this kind. 
7. §. Nor are the Natures, Faculties, and Contents of Vegetables 
lefs various, or a particular Infpe@tion hereinto, of lefs concernment. 
For fince All, or Moft, feem to grow inthe fame manner, with one Suz, 
one Rajiv, indifferently well upon one Soz/, and, to outward appearance, 
to have the fame Cowon Parts; it may be asked, Hom itcomesto pa&, 
that their Liquors, or other Contained Parts, are of fuch different 
Kinds; onebeing Watry, another Winy, athird Ozly, a fourth Mil- 
Ay, and the like. How alfothere is fuch a variety in their Senible 
Qualities, as their Colours, Taftes, and Smells 5 what thofe Materials 
are, which are neceflary to the Beiwg of thefe Qualities; and thofe 
Formalities, wherein their Effence doth confift; as what it is that makes 
a Plant, or Flower, to be white or red 5 fragrant or fetid; bitter or fweet 
or to be of any other Colour,smell, or Tafte. In like manner, their Fz- 
culties and Powers, what that is, or thofe things are, by which they 
are conftituted; as whence one becomes Purgative, another Vomitory, 
a third Diaphoretick, &c, Thefe, I fay, with many other particular 
Inquiries depending hereupon 5 as they cannot but much oblige the 
Reafon of Man to be obfequious to them , fo by bringing in,at leaft, 
fome fatisfaction, willno lefs reward it. Efpecially, if it be withal 
confidered, that befides our fatisfaction as to the Nature of Vegetation; 
fome further Light, to divers other parts of Knowledge, may likewife 
hence arife. 
8. §. For fincethe prefent Defign will ingage us, to an accurate 
and multifarious Obfervation of Plants; we may hereby be enabled 
to range and fort them with more certainty , according to the Degrees 
of their Affizity. And all Exoticks, Plants or Parts of Plants, may 
probably be reduced to fome fuch Domefficks, unto which they may 
bear the beft Refemblance. Again, it may frequently conduct our 
minds to the confideration of the State of Avimals; as whether there 
are not divers material Agreements betwixt them both; and what 
they are. Whereiz alfo they may confiderably differ, and what thofe 
things are which are more effential to their diftinguifhment. And de- 
fides, not only to compare what isalready known of both ; but alfo, 
by what may be obferved inthe ove, to fuggeft and facilitate the finding 
out of what may yet be unobferved in the other. So aljo the confide- 
ration of the Colours, smells and Taffes of Vegetables, may conduce to 
the Knowledge of the fame Qualities in General; or of what it is, that 
conftitutes them fuch, in any other Body: not as they are aéfually re- 
ceived by Senfés but fo far, as {uch Materials or external Circumftan- 
ces, are requifite to their becoming the Adequate Objects thereof. It 
may \ead us alfo to inquire into further Ways of Cultivation, with re- 
fpe&t to the whole Plawt, or to the Flower, Fruit, or other Part : 
Toamend themas totheir Sizes, Colours, Taftes, Fruztfulnefs, or other 
wife: Tothink of other Ways of Propagation ; or to apply thofe/al- 
ready known to other Plavts than hath been ufed. Likewife the Know- 
ledge of their Mechanical Ufes may hereby be enlarged; bothastothe 
Rea- 

