44 NATURAL CLASSIFICATION. 



In result 1. It is better to distinguish and in- 

 sulate by good names, than to blend and con- 

 ceal by wrong references and bad names. 2. All 

 bad Genera must be reformed, revised and cor- 

 rected, till they become unobjectionable and in- 

 variable. 3. All bad names must be changed 

 for good Names. 4 The same for Natural Class- 

 es, Orders and famihes. 5 And also for Species 

 or the Generic types. 



It is this I propose partly to do in this work, 

 as far as my observations avail and my research- 

 es extend. To my fellow Botanists I say — Do 

 likewise or better still; but never neglect a 

 botanical reform, based on nature, and proper 

 discriminations. 



NATURAL CLASSES AND ORDERS 



Of C. S. Rafnesquc, 1815. 



The study of mutual affinities and disparaties, 

 is the base and true path of methodical and 

 natural Botany. Cesalpini in 1583 began mod- 

 ern Classification on a natural plan by 15 nat- 

 ural groups; most of the Botanists prefered 

 since artificial systems, until Magnol in 1689 

 and Linneus who in 1751 produced 58 sup- 

 posed natural Orders along with his artificial 

 sexual Classes. 



Adanson had also 58 families in 1763, and 45 

 were Natural, they were reduced to 36 by 

 Scopoli in 1783, and to 54 by Necker in 1790. 

 But Jussieu improving thereon had in 1789 as 

 many as 100 natural families in 15 artificial 

 Classes, which have l)een gradualy increased 

 or improved by Lamark, Ventenat, Decandole, 



