Linnaeus refers to the famine which has struck the country recently and threatens to return the coming spring/summer.
Such plague has previously forced people to use hazel and oak buds with unhealthy outcome.
Linnaeus suggests that Sweden probably has more of healthy plants than any other country in Europe and that therefore the population, at least during summer, should be able to avoid famine.
Linnaeus refers to his extensive travels throughout the country and that he has read most of what has been written about useful and healthy plants.
He submits a memo on plants that in the coming summer could be used for food.
Linnaeus refers to his own treatise, Plantae esculentae patriae, which, based upon recommendation from Carl Gustaf Löwenhielm, has been translated into Swedish [Linnaeus refers to Plantae esculentae patriae, eller Wåra inländska äteliga wäxter]. Linnaeus suggests that under the present conditions a brief and easily understood version should be widely distributed.
Linnaeus hopes that the King [Adolf Fredrik] will accept his proposal.
The memo should be distributed and explained to people by those on various posts in the country that have studied botany, much in the same way as when the late Wertmüller [presumably Johan Ulrik Wertmüller the Elder] was sent to northern Sweden.
Each of the plants has reference numbers to both the first and the second edition of Flora Suecica [i.e., Flora Svecica, Stockholm ed. and Flora Svecica 2nd ed.].
Swedish names have been added.