422 



must have, it must be universally applicable. These parts 

 are the stamens and pistils of flowers. Their number, 

 situation, and proportion, afford the principles by which 

 the twenty-four classes of Linnaeus, and their respective 

 orders, are discriminated. This alphabet is the key to our 

 botanical dictionaries, whether they be universal systems, 

 or Species Plant arum ; or whether they be partial or local 

 catalogues, termed Floras, of particular countries, or ca- 

 talogues of limited collections or gardens. 



Such works as these last have multiplied prodigiously 

 since the promulgation of the Linnaean system, and have 

 tended very essentially to promote a practical knowledge 

 of plants. To this end, they should be accompanied with 

 as much useful information as their concise plan admits ; 

 or, at least, with references to more ample treatises. 



Much scorn has been bestowed, by some affected phi- 

 losophers, upon these "mere catalogues" as they call 

 them, which, as they allege, teach nothing but names. 

 But these philosophers have never attempted to instruct 

 us how we are to perpetuate or communicate a knowledge 

 of things, without the very commodious invention of di- 

 stinguishing them by names. The subjects of the vege- 

 table kingdom are indeed so immensely numerous (sixty 

 thousand Phaenogamous), that this study of nomenclature 

 is become of itself no less arduous than necessary ; but 

 be this as it may, it cannot be dispensed with. 



Voyages and accounts of distant countries are now no 

 longer written or read for mere amusement, like novels 

 or fairy tales. We are not now to be satisfied with 

 reading that particular nations or people use some " cer- 

 tain herb or tree" for food or medicine. We expect to 

 know the scientific name, or the botanical affinities, of 

 every curious or important plant, whence alone we can 

 derive any real instruction. 



I hope it will in time be thought no less essential, that 

 the distinguishing characters of every such object, in the 

 animal as well as vegetable kingdom, should be indicated 

 by travellers of competent information. 



