VI PREFACE. 



organs, such as the length, number, or position of the sta- 

 mens and pistils, which is the foundation of the system of 

 Linnaeus : but by characters essential, and collected from 

 different classes of organs, in accordance with the affinities 

 which Nature herself has established. And not the least 

 recommendation is, that the Families of Plants thus consti- 

 tuted, comprehend individuals not only allied in their more 

 obvious peculiarities, but also possessing similar properties, 

 whether useful or otherwise, in Medicine, Domestic Econo- 

 my, or the Arts. This System of classification is therefore 

 peculiarly adapted to the arrangement of a Flora which 

 is new or but imperfectly explored, the uses of the Plants 

 it comprehends being comparatively unknown. The com- 

 mon properties of each Family of the Natural System have 

 already been in a great measure established. When we 

 meet therefore with a new plant, and discover the Natural 

 order to which it belongs, we are provided with a key which 

 informs us of certain of its properties, and a guide in our 

 further inquiries as to the different uses to which it may be 

 applied. 



Great, however, as the advantages are by which the 

 Natural System is recommended, still it must be allowed, 

 that it is not so well adapted for the Tyro in Botany. A 

 certain acquaintance with the science is previously neces- 

 sary before the student can avail himself of its classification 

 in detecting the place which a plant, presented to him for 

 the first time, occupies in the system. It may be otherwise, 

 when, after the labours of many succeeding Botanists, we 

 may be enabled to see the way clearly before us, and we 

 may have the path which Nature has followed, distinctly 

 traced out for our guidance ; and with the same ease that 

 we can point out the individuals composing the well-marked 

 Families of the Leguminos.i; and the Melastomaceje, so 

 also, the Orders which are ill-defined being remodelled with 

 characters distinct and obvious, we shall, with equal facility, 



