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compensate for any temporary delay or disappointment, any addi- 

 tional trouble, in the acquisition even of the mere name of the plant 

 under investigation ; while the comparative facility with which this 

 object is accomplished by the use of an artificial arrangement, will 

 ever lead too many to stop short at the very point where their labours 

 ought to commence, even in accordance with one of the advantages 

 claimed by the exclusive advocates of such artificial schemes, namely, 

 that the name being known, there is no difliculty in further ascertain- 

 ing all that has been recorded in reference to the plant in question. 



Now, if we understand Dr. Drummond aright, it is the decline in 

 popularity of this mere name-knowledge that he so feelingly deplores. 

 He would appear to be a rigid conservative in scientific matters ; one 

 of those who, unmindful that " old things are passed away," in con- 

 sequence of the increased means and appliances now placed at the 

 command of the student, would have all scientific research confined 

 to the naiTow limits which bounded inquiry at the period when the 

 newly promulgated Linnaean artificial system charmed by its simpli- 

 city, as compared with the modes of investigation previously in use, 

 and, from its ready applicability, seemed to render further improvement 

 undesirable, if not impossible. But the onward progress of science 

 is no more to be arrested by puling regrets than by arbitrary attempts 

 at suppression. In the darkest ages of her history there have ever 

 been far-seeing eyes capable of beholding the bright futurity lying 

 beyond the enveloping gloom, as there have always been bold tongues 

 which, amidst the oppression of scientific despotism, could with Ga- 

 lileo fearlessly affirm — " And yet it moves !" 



But is there really any foundation for the apprehension that a 

 popular taste for botany in this country is declining? We unhesi- 

 tatingly answer — No ! A taste for that mere name-knowledge which 

 long passed for botany is without doubt rapidly on the decline, but it 

 is only to give place to a desire for knowledge of a higher and more 

 satisfactory, because of a more precise and a more comprehensive 

 character. As one proof of the soundness of this position, we would 

 adduce the demand for a new edition of the work whose title stands 

 at the head of the present notice. It may however be objected to 

 such evidence, that this new edition is called for only after an interval 

 of eight years from the appearance of the previous one arranged upon 

 the same plan, while within the preceding ten years, during which the 

 Linnajan system was followed in the arrangement, four editions of the 

 same work were published. We would beg to remind any one so 

 objecting, that during the interval of eight years, two editions of 



