193 
dy’s Mantle (Alchemilla), a rosaceous plantin all its more 
portant characters and properties, is removed from the ro- 
saceous tribe in Icosanpria, and placed far away in Tr- 
TRANDRIA, because its stamens are only four. 
_ 679. Now, the Linnzan method is admirable for the pur- 
ose for which it was intended (638)—for assisting the be- 
gimner in learning the names of plants. But it is of no other 
use, and that use is only as an introduction to the study of 
fants: it conveys little knowledge of the structure, and none — 
of the properties of plants. 
680. The natural System, however, has higher pede 
sions, The plants in each Order (Family) are united there, 
because they have more points of resemblance with each other, 
than with any other plants. The order implies a number of 
ers, and hence, when the characters of an order are 
known, much inhiable information is already acquired re- ee 
garding all the plants whose names are under that order— 
with respect both to their structure, and their properties ; 
for it is found that plants similar in many points of ee 
have also many properties in common. 
681. Cruciform, Rosaceous, Labiate, Papionacentt, Um- 
bellate plants (with the Flower-stalks radiating from a cen- 
tral point—as Hemlock) illustrate natural Families. Few 
are so clearly defined as these; but in all there are affinities, 
more or less marked and numerous, which serve to unite the 
Plants in each Family. And, not only are the plants likest 
to each other joined in one family—the Families are arrang- 
ed so that the adjoining ones are always the most similar, 
and are divided into classes: these are divided into sets, and 
arranged so that the most nearly related classes are adja- — 
cent. Thus, when we know the situation of a Family in a — 
natural shegie: sé already know some leading points in the z 
Structure of the plants of that Family. 
882. The Natural System is the Grammar of Botany, and 
natural arrangement of plants may be basta to the 
