When as in _truth_, and in _reason_, the more _Learning_, the better _Philosophers_, and the greater _Abilities_ they possess, the _more_, and the _better_ are they _qualified_, to _Cultivate_, and improve their _Estates_: Methinks this is well and rationally argued.
And now you have in part what I had to produce in extenuation of this _Adventure_; that _Animated_ with a _Command_, and Assisted by divers _Worthy Persons_ (whose _Names_ I am prone to _celebrate_ with all just _Respects_) I have presumed to cast in my _Symbol_; which, with the rest that are to follow, may (I hope) be in some degree serviceable to _him_ (who ere the happy _Person_ be) that shall oblige the _World_ with that compleat _Systeme_ of _Agriculture_, which as yet seems a _desideratum_, and wanting to its full perfection.

It is (I assure you) what is one of the Principal designs of the _ROYAL SOCIETY_, not in this _Particular_ only, but through all the _Liberal_ and more useful _Arts_; and for which (in the estimation of all equal _Judges_) it will merit the greatest of _Encouragements_; that so, at last, what the Learned _Columella_ has wittily reproached, and complained of, as a defect in that _Age_ of _his_, concerning _Agriculture_ in general, and is applicable _here_, may attain its desired _Remedy_ and _Consummation_ in _This_ of _Ours_.
_Sola enim Res Rustica, quae sine dubitatione proxima, & quasi consanguinea Sapientiae est, tam discentibus eget, quam magistris: Adhuc enim Scholas Rhetorum, & Geometrarum, Musicorumque, vel quod magis mirandum est, contemptissimorum vitiorum officinas, gulosius condiendi cibos, & luxuriosius fercula struendi, capitumque & capillorum concinnatores, non solum esse audivi, sed & ipse vidi; Agricolationis neque Doctores qui se profiterentur, neque Discipulos cognovi._{lxxxiii:1} But this I leave for our _Peruk'd Gallants_ to interpret, and should now apply my self to the _Directive_ Part, which I am all this while bespeaking, if after what I have said in the several _Paragraphs_ of the ensuing _Discourse_ upon the _Argument_ of _Wood_, (and which in this _Fourth_ Edition coming _Abroad_ with innumerable _Improvements_, and _Advantages_ (so furnished, as I hope shall neither reproach the _Author_, or repent the _Reader_) it might not seem superfluous to have _premised_ any thing _here_ for the Encouragement of so becoming an _Industry_.

There are divers _Learned_, and judicious _Men_ who have _preceded_ Me in this _Argument_; as many, at least, as have undertaken to Write and Compile vast _Herbals_, and _Theaters_ of _Plants_; of which we have some of our own _Country-men_, (especially, the most Industrious and Learned Mr.
_Ray_) who have (boldly I dare affirm it) surpass'd _any_, if not all the _Foreigners_ that are extant: In _those_ it is you meet with the _Description_ of the several _Plants_, by _Discourses_, _Figures_, _Names_, _Places_ of _Growth_; time of _Flourishing_, and their _Medicinal Virtues_; which may supply any _deficiency_ of mine as to those _Particulars_; if forbearing the _Repetition_, it should by any be imputed for a _defect_, though it were indeed none of my _design_: I say, these things are long since performed to our hands: But there is none of these (that I at least know of, and are come to my perusal) who have taken any considerable pains how to _Direct_, and _Encourage_ us in the _Culture_ of _Forest-Trees_ (the grand _defect_ of this _Nation_) besides some small sprinklings to be met withal in _Gervas Markham_, old _Tusser_, and of _Foreigners_, the _Country-Farm_ long since translated out of French, and by no means suitable to our Clime and _Country_: Neither have any of these proceeded after my _Method_, and particularly, in _Raising_, _Planting_, _Dressing_, and _Governing_, &c.

or so sedulously made it their business, to _specifie_ the _Mechanical Uses_ of the _several kinds_, as I have done, which was hitherto a great _desideratum_, and in which the _Reader_ will likewise find some things altogether _New_ and _Instructive_; and both _Directions_ and _Encouragements_ for the Propagation of some _Foreign_ Curiosities of _Ornament_ and _Use_, which were hitherto neglected.

If I have upon occasion presumed to say any thing concerning their _Medicinal_ properties, it has been _Modestly_ and Frugally, and with chief, if not only respect to the poor _Wood-man_, whom none I presume will envy, that living far from the _Physician_, he should in case of _Necessity_, consult the reverend _Druid_, his{lxxxv:1} _Oaks_ and his _Elm_, _Birch_, or _Elder_, for a short _Breath_, a Green _Wound_, or a sore _Leg_; Casualties incident to this hard _Labour_.