230 Introductory View of the 



various properties. Let us not undervalue the labours of 

 Jussieu ; an accomplished botanist should be acquainted with 

 both these systems; but we would recommend the young 

 student to commence with the Linnean, as being at once the 

 easiest in practice, and the least to be dispensed with. 



When we say that Linnaeus divided the vegetable kingdom 

 into twenty-four classes, each of which classes is again di- 

 vided into several orders, these subdivided into genera, and 

 the genera into species, let it not be supposed that all these 

 various terms and subdivisions increase the difficulty to the 

 young student, for the truth is diametrically the reverse. Let 

 the reader suppose that he has a plant before him, of which 

 he would learn the history. He must first ascertain its name. 

 Among nearly 50,000 plants he has to seek this one. It will 

 readily be seen that if he has to plunge into the midst of all 

 these numbers, and to compare the plant before him with the 

 full description of each individual species, until he meets with 

 one corresponding to it, it will be a task demanding a large 

 portion both of time and patience, and he will be fortunate if 

 his plant be not entirely withered and decomposed, before he 

 have accomplished the work. Let him, then, suppose that, by 

 observing one or two particular characters, he ascertains that 

 it belongs to a class, containing about two thousand plants ; 

 that, by another glance, he understands it to be of an order 

 of that class, containing two hundred ; his task is now consi- 

 derably reduced, but by a little further observation, he yet di- 

 minishes the number much more, before he has recourse to 

 the full descriptions of the plants. The order to which it 

 belongs is arranged in several divisions, according to some 

 conspicuous characters ; by attention to these, the number is 

 reduced to forty or fifty. By a little closer inspection, he 

 assigns it to the proper genus ; and now, instead of compar- 

 ing it with the detailed description of 50,000 plants, he has 

 but six, a dozen, or perhaps twenty, to examine. In many 

 cases, he may ascertain the particular species, without having 

 occasion to go through the full description of any one but 

 that which actually belongs to it. What would have been 

 a tedious task, is thus converted into an interesting occupa- 

 tion, and he is surprised to find how easy is that which he 

 imagined to be so difficult. The difficulties have been met, 

 and overcome, by those who have given them the station and 

 the name that rightfully belong to them. It is this which 

 displays the skill of the botanist ; and to do this, if necessary, 

 it should be the ambition of the student to qualify himself. 



The Linnean system is founded upon the parts of fructifi- 

 cation, of which there are usually reckoned seven ; the calyx, 



