276 THE JESSIEDS AND THE NATURAL METHOD. 



but it would probably hasten the execution of that wot-k were we to turn all 

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

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

 p. 7, 1814.) All the ranks, all the subordinations of gtoups, woiiJd then be 

 marked ; the entire outline of botany would be conformable to that of zoology, 

 and great advantages would result as regards the high and philosophical views 

 common to the two sciences. On this problem of families to be united into 

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

 presses himself as follows : " There are but three great classes known at present," 

 (the three which I propose to name emhranchements^ * * " It is beyond 

 doubt that each of these classes may one day be siabdivided, so as to group 

 among themselves the families which are alike ; but this subdivision of classes, 

 this institution of groups superior to families and inferior to classes, has not yet 

 been accomplished in a natural manner. * * In this lies the most important 

 problem which now presents itself for solution in the study of natural relations." 

 {Theorie ^lementaire de la Botaniguo, 1813, p 195.) 



