Blair Collection > Flora Scotica: or, a systematic arrangement, in the Linnaean method, of the native plants of Scotland and the Hebrides > Volume 1

PREFACE. xi
Should I be afk'd, why, contrary to the
prefent fafliion in works of this kind, I
chofe to write the defcriptions and ufes of
the plants in Englrjh rather than Latin f I
anfwer, to comply with the 7'equeji of my befi
friends. Neither do I think it anyobjed:ion
to the book, as it was written purely for
the ufe of my countrymen, who will under*
ftand it never the worfe for being in their
own tongue.
> With the theory and technical terms of the
fexual fyll:em, and the manner how to in-^
veftigate an unknown plant, the reader is
fuppofed to be acquainted before he takes
the Flora Scotica in hand. U he (hould be
totally ignorant of the elements of Botany,
and yet be defirous of knowing the names
and ufes of any native plants which may fall
in his way, I would beg leave firft to refer
him either to the Philofophia Botanica of.
Linnceus^ for a Latin inflrudlion in the firft
principles of the fcience, or to Lee's Intro^
duBion to Botany, or 'Rofes Elements of
Botany for an Englijh one; after which I
flatter myfelf he will have little diffi-
culty, with the help of the Flora Scotica^
to