318 



CHAPTER XX, 



OF THE PECULIAR FUNCTIONS OF THE 

 STAMENS AND PISTILS, WITH THE EX. 

 PERIMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS OF 

 LINNAEUS AND OTHERS ON THAT SUB- 

 JECT. 



The real use of the Stamens of Plants was 

 long a subject of dispute among philosophers, 

 till Linnaeus, according to the general opi- 

 nion at present, explained it beyond a possi- 

 bility of doubt. Still there are not wanting 

 persons who from time to time start objec- 

 tions, prompted either by a philosophical 

 pursuit of truth, or an ambitious desire of 

 distinguishing themselves in controverting so 

 celebrated a doctrine, as some have written 

 against the circulation of the animal blood. 

 I propose to trace the history of this doc- 

 trine^ and especially to review the facts and 



