BOTANY OF LA SAL,L,3 COUNTY. 31 



we call Umbelliferac. A family then, is a collection 

 of plants whose fruits are similar. A genus is a divis- 

 ion of a family having stems, leaves and flowers much 

 alike. 



Species are members of a genus differing in form of 

 leaf, of flowers, hairiness and other small matters. 



Varieties are members of a species differing in size, 

 color, time of flowering, &c. 



Varieties are not permanent and being neglected re- 

 vert to the usual form of the species. But it is prob- 

 able that favorable circumstances and care for many 

 years may give to a variety the character of a species, 

 and it is not improbable that species are but varieties 

 of the generic type, the best example of the genus. That 

 true genera ever become something else, we do not be- 

 iieve. That our systems of classifications are perfect 

 no one claims and that some of our genera are defined 

 by very artificial characters and that in some cases 

 our dividing lines are not wisely drawn will be readily 

 conceded, and this has no doubt caused much con- 

 fusion of thought and led to some very baseless and 

 uncalled for generalization. 



That there is such a thing as evolution, taking the 

 word to mean a process of change, no naturalist doubts 

 that it accounts for creation and all its facts and mys- 

 teries none but an idiot or a lunatic will argue. There 

 never has been, never will be any ''endless chain of 

 being;" and what there is of it plainly indicates the 

 existence of a Creator and the oversight and direction 

 of an intelligent, omniscient and omnipotent mind. 



The reader will understand that the description fol- 

 lowing an order applies to all members of that order, 

 that following the name of a genus to all the species 

 of a genus, while that of a species applies to that 

 species only, the aim being to bring out in it the points 



