After what the _Frontispiece_ and _Porch_ this _Wooden Edifice_ presents you, I shall need no farther to repeat the _Occasion_ of this following _Discourse_; I am only to acquaint you, That as it was delivered to the _Royal Society_ by an unworthy _Member_ thereof, in Obedience to their _Commands_; by the _same_ it is now _Re-publish’d_ without any farther Prospect: And the _Reader_ is to know, That if these dry _sticks_ afford him any _Sap_, it is one of the _least_ and _meanest_ of those _Pieces_ which are every day produc’d by that _Illustrious Assembly_, and which enrich their _Collections_, as so many _Monuments_ of their accurate _Experiments_, and publick Endeavours, in order to the production of _real_ and _useful Theories_, the Propagation and Improvement of _Natural Science_, and the honour of their _Institution_. If to _this_ there be any thing subjoyned _here_, which may a while bespeak the Patience of the _Reader_, it is only for the encouragement of an _Industry_, and worthy _Labour_, much in our days _neglected_, as haply reputed a _Consideration_ of too sordid and vulgar a nature for _Noble Persons_, and _Gentlemen_ to busie themselves withal, and who oftner find out occasions to _Fell-down_, and Destroy their Woods and _Plantations_, than either to _repair_ or _improve_ them. But we are not without hopes of taking off these _Prejudices_, and of reconciling them to a _Subject_ and an _Industry_ which has been _consecrated_ (as I may say) by as _good_, and as _great_ Persons, as any the World has produced; and whose Names we find mingl’d amongst _Kings_ and _Philosophers_, grave _Senators_, and _Patriots_ of their Country: For such of old were _Solomon_, _Cyrus_, and _Numa_, _Licinius_ surnamed _Stolo_, _Cato_, and _Cincinnatus_; the _Piso’s_, _Fabii_, _Cicero_, the _Plinies_, and thousands more whom I might enumerate, that disdained not to cultivate these _Rusticities_ even with their own hands, and to esteem it no small _Accession_, to dignifie their _Titles_, and adorn their _purple_ with these _Rural Characters_ of their affections to _Planting_, and love of this part of _Agriculture_, which has transmitted to us their venerable _Names_ through so many _Ages_ and _Vicissitudes_ of the World.