1862.] nEviEw. 59 



If Linnseus had done no greater thing than that of inventhig 

 and teacliing the doctrine of tlie sexuality of pLants, his chxims to 

 distinction and to the gratitude of posterity would have heen very 

 slender ; his fame would have rested on a narrow basis. 



Jussieu and his followers, among whom we will persist in 

 placing Prof. Agardh, and we will not hesitate to express our 

 belief that he is one of the most meritorious, have done some- 

 thing, to say the very least, to rescue botany from the reproach 

 justly cast on it, in our youthful days. That Agardh's systematic 

 arrangement of botanical orders is exactly the right one, we will 

 not maintain, for we do not know; but that he has laboured 

 hard in evolving relationships, affinities, and other accidents of 

 plants, is very manifest from every page of his great work on this 

 subject. He has wrought well, if not wisely, and he shall have 

 our unqualified and disinterested thanks for his pains. 



Dr. Roeper, the author of the pamphlet set at the head of this 

 article, entertains views of classification not in vmison with those 

 of his contemporary, the learned Swede. AY ell, why not? One 

 man's opinion may be as good as another man's. The rela- 

 tionships of genera and families are so numerous, and are viewed 

 under so multifarious aspects, that botanists may be excused when 

 they express different opinions about their value. 



For example, Professor Agardh believes that Acloxa should stand 

 near Ranunctdacece, and Professor Roeper that it has a closer 

 connection with Sambucinece, a section of the Order Caprifolia- 

 cea. " Who can decide when doctors disagree ?" 



When the great luminaries can only cast fitful, glimmering 

 flashes on the dark domains of science, what can be expected 

 from the smaller orbs, which shine only with borrowed lustre? 

 Nothing, but to make darkness visible. The perplexed neophyte 

 is the more bewildered the further he proceeds, and in his despair 

 of being able to extricate himself from the entangling maze, is 

 disposed to abandon all systems and resort to the ancient alpha- 

 betic method of arrangement. 



An imperfect system is better than none, on the principle that 

 half a loaf is better than no bread; and it little boots the learner 

 Avhcther it be called a natural or an artificial system of classi- 

 fication. If it serves his purpose, he may well be thankful, and 

 need not cavil at the name. No doubt it would be more con- 

 ducive to the progress of the science if professors, teachers, lee- 



