408 SYSTEM OF JUSSIEU. 



scribed by either of these authors. A stu- 

 dent may acquire a competent knowledge of 

 natural orders, with very great pleasure to 

 himself, by repeatedly turning over the work 

 of Jussieu with any known plants in his 

 hand, and contemplating their essential ge- 

 neric characters in the first place, and then 

 what regards their habit and affinities ; pro- 

 ceeding afterwards to combine in his own 

 mind their several points of agreement, till he; 

 is competent to form an idea of those assem- 

 blages which constitute natural Classes and 

 Orders. This will gradually extend his ideas ; 

 whereas a contrary mode would only con- 

 tract them, and his Jussieu would prove, 

 merely an artificial guide, without the advan« 

 tages of facility or perspicuity. 



