NATURAL CLASSIFICATION. 43 



doubts it is a mere tyro or beginner in the study. 

 On this truth must be based our Genera and 

 Species, instead of admiting improper clusters 

 of individuals. We shall then be better able to 

 ascertain the formations, deviations and filia- 

 tions of plants, with all their connections, rela- 

 tions and affinities to each other. 



Some botanists deem that in nomenclature 

 and classification, the majority must rule: this 

 may be true for artificial systems; but not in 

 the natural method. There Nature alone must 

 rule, and her close observers who notice the 

 botanical laws, phenomena, exceptions and 

 forms. All other Botanists may be wrong, and 

 are often so, when they wish to make these 

 bend to their own petty views and absurd class- 

 es or Genera. 



Names are also quite essential, because they 

 fix and convey the knowledge thus acquired. 

 Bad names can only be tolerated for awhile. 

 Those of Aublet were changed by Necker and 

 Schreber and we had 3 for one of his. Rosa., 

 Quercus and Labiates for instance are good 

 invariable names. If the philological absurdi- 

 ties of vulgar languages as to Grasses, Lilies 

 Slc. are admitted into the Scientific language 

 of Botany, we should fall into confusion of ideas 

 and applications. Names are not arbitrary i 

 they impart ideas, and ought to be proper, clear 

 and distinct, in order to suggest or convey such 

 ideas to the mind, fix them in the memory, and 

 be generaly applicable and practical. 



Botanists have like other men their whims, 

 preferences, systems, theories and hypotheses ; 

 but all must give way before observations, facts 

 and realities : and thus by truth shall the Sci- 

 ence progress. 



