302 Dr. Lindley’s Natural System of Botany. 
case, it is the natural result of the progress of discovery ; and in- 
stead of embarrassing the student, as is often supposed, does in re- 
ality render the study of the science much more clear and satisfac- 
tory.* Notwithstanding the great increase of genera within the last 
few years, it may be safely said that at no previous period could a 
really useful knowledge of the vegetable kingdom be acquired with 
so little labor. In hazarding this remark, it is of course taken for 
granted that the student will avail himself of all the advantages of 
modern physiological botany and of the natural system: for so rapid 
n the discovery of new and strange forms of structure, for 
which the artificial arrangement of Linneus makes no provision, that 
the student who takes that system as his guide has indeed a hopeless 
task before him. 
The essential characters of the orders appear to have been very 
carefully revised in this edition, as also the remarks upon their affin- 
ities, geographical distribution and sensible properties. Did our lim- 
its allow, we might call the attention of our readers more particu- 
larly to this part of the work. We cannot bring our remarks to a 
close, however, without suggesting what we consider a very desira- 
ble improvement upon the manner in which the seed is described 
not only in this, but in almost all modern systematic works. It is 
very necessary that an organ which affords such important charac- 
ters, both as to its situation in the fruit, and particularly as to its in- 
ternal structure, should be described with the greatest possible clear- 
ness and precision, and in an uniform manner. The prevalent fault 
of which we complains thus noticed, as long ago as the year 1811, 
by that most acute botanist, the late L. C. Richacd, 
= a 
* This remark rests upon the supposition that proposed genera are clearly dis- 
tinguished from their allies by essential differences of structure, and are not such 
genera as those often proposed by Mr. Rafinesque, or Mr. Spach. (Vid. Ann. Sct- 
Naturelles, New Ser. vol. 4.) We cannot avoid here noticing a remark in 
one of the most eminent botanists of the age. After givin 
Prodromus, th of the genus Enemion (in which “ antheris subrotundis 
is translated “with rough anthers”) ‘he author subjoins—".A doubtful genus; but 
De Candolie requires very little authority for a new genus.” Now the genus Ene- 
mion was established by Rafinesque, upon what is now well known to be a species 
of | m; and De Candolle, who never saw the plant of Rafinesque, but merely 
» 
Copies his published description, prefixes the mark of a doubtful genus, and re- 
that 
t it seems to be the same as Isopyrum! The critic who could hazard 
such a remark must have presumed that the Prodromus of De Candolle was not 
likely to-fall into the hands of his readers 
