276 THE JESSIEUS AND THE NATURAL METHOD. 



but it would probably basten tbe execution of tbat Avcrk were we to turn all 

 our attention to tbe combination of families in classes equally natural." {Gen- 

 eral remarks, geographical and systematical, on the hoiany of Terra Justralis, 

 p. 7, 1814.) All tbe ranks, all tbe subordinations of gvoups, wou«.d tben be 

 marked ; tbe entire outline of botany would be conformable to tbat of zoology, 

 and great advantages Avould result as regards tbe bigb and pbilosopbical views 

 common to tbe two sciences. On tbis problem of families to be united into 

 classes, and classes to be separated from emhranchcmcnts, M. de Candolle ex- 

 presses bimself as follows : " Tbere are but tbree great classes known at present," 

 (tbe tbree wbicb I propose to name eynbranchements.) * * " It is beyond 

 doubt tbat eacb of tbese classes may one day be subdivided, so as to group 

 among tbemselves tbe families wbicb are alike ; but tbis subdivision of classes, 

 tbis institution of groups superior to fimilies and inferior to classes, bas not yet 

 been accomplisbed in a natural manner. * * In tbis lies tbe most important 

 problem wbicb now presents itself for solution in tbe study of natural relations." 

 {Thcorie Elementaire de la Botanigua, 1813, p 195.) 



