CONCLUSION* 9^ 



ters are ample, conclusive, essential, exclusive 

 and general, applying to all the species : this 

 makes them natural and proper. Therefore all 

 Natural tienera ought to he like them, and all 

 artificial Genera divided or rectified till they 

 reach this perfection or rather correct form, by 

 revising and amplifying their single or confined 

 generic character : while anomalous and poly- 

 morphous Genera must of course be reduced to 

 their natural limits. 



The rectification of Genera is important above 

 all in Botany, as in Zoology ; since they afford 

 the generic names, and a wrong Genus multi- 

 plies the wrong names of Species, overloading 

 them with useless artificial synonymy. Improper 

 names will therefore be never exploded until 

 bad Genera are forgotten, as were gradualy 

 the unmeaning and indefinite Genera of old. 



Names and Genera are thus intimately con- 

 nected ; they stand and fall together. The ne- 

 cessity of both being proper and definite, nat- 

 ural and perspicuous, is therefore quite evident. 

 A bad name given to a good Genus annuls it 

 in the eyes of many, until rectified or changed. 



In this sense Natural Genera shall really af- 

 ford the natural character and name : while 

 actual Genera have often a false character and 

 improper name, or else they appear nearly as 

 bad as the vulgar names in modern languages : 

 quite loose and incorrect in import or applica- 

 tion. 



Species altho' less important since they are 

 variable, must however be attended to in the 

 same way; they ought to bear a good name 

 that applies, if not exclusively, at least properly. 

 We ought to be guided for them by a due know- 

 ledge of their fixed forms, and those that may 



19 



