2 54 The Botanical Gazette. [September, 



sessed of but few facts, but he who has them all within his 

 reach finds no more difficult task; for it is like fitting together 

 a puzzle of endless pieces. 



The question might arise as to the duty of ordinary manu- 

 als in this respect, books of limited range, that do not profess 

 to undertake such a path-breaking operation as the construc- 

 tion of a new Natural System. It has always been my opin- 

 ion that even the most local manual should be an expression 

 of the ascertained facts of affinity. This statement is by no 

 means so sweeping as it may at first appear; for it does not 

 contemplate including the scores of crude notions which are 

 always being advanced, so attractive to many who are natu- 

 rally restless and mistake change for progress. In the state- 

 ment made, I desire to emphasize the words "ascertained 

 facts of affinity;" and this is very far from permitting the use 

 of every random notion that may happen to be published. 

 The facts of affinity are slowly accumulating, facts which have 

 reached the dignity of general consent, and it is such that I 

 would always have incorporated even in local manuals, which 

 should not be subjected to the continuous shaking of treach- 

 erous ground. I am fully aware that there is a conservatism 

 which is an obstruction to progress ; just as there is a gallop- 

 ing rapidity which would land us in the mire; and that we 

 probably all possess one of these qualities in our anxietv to 

 escape the dangers of the other. 



The points presented then, in this consideration of the third 

 phase of. Systematic Botany are, that the last and highest ex- 

 pression of systematic work is the construction of a Natural 

 System, based upon the accumulations of those who collect 



and describe, and those who study life-histories; that this 

 work involves the completest command of literature and the 

 highest powers of generalization ; that it is essential to pro- 

 gre- tor a Natural System to be attempted with every ad- 

 vance in knowledge ; and that all the known facts of affinity, 

 thus brought within reach, should be expressed in all systematic 



literature. 



In conclusion, I have but to say that I have attempted to 

 indicate the true relation which exists among the different 

 phases of Systematic Botany; to point out an affinity which 

 there is danger of ignoring ; and to maintain that all these 

 fmnortTnt U°^ ^'^ t0 the sa ™ ^nd. are equally 



important, equally honorable. 



Indiana University, Blooming ton, fnd. 



