ft TO TEACHERS, &c 



of investigation by some striking part. At other times 

 they assist in determining the plant after its flowering is 

 past. But the essential characters must always be made 

 out, before we venture to name our plant. 



T. Which species of the vcrbascum is this ? [suppose the 

 answer is thapsus, which species will be found described 

 under the generic name verbascum, in tSie labelling cata*- 

 logue.] What do you understand by a decurrent leaf? 

 Point out the down on the leaves. Why do you consider 

 the inflorescence a cylindric spike ? Turn to the natural 

 order of Linneus to which this plant belongs. What am 

 the general medical properties of that order ? Turn to the 

 vocabulary and see whatis meant by narcotic and what by 

 antiscorbutic. 



INoTE. In labelling plants, the artificial class and or- 

 der, and the numbers of the natural orders of both Linne- 

 us and Jussieu should be written on the labels in the order 

 in which they stand in the labelling catalogue. Because 

 every botanist may have occasion to arrange plants by all 

 these methods. The artificial method is best, when we in- 

 tend an herbarium for an assistant in looking out plants. 

 The natural orders of Linneus and Jussieu will bring to- 

 gether plants of similar habits and properties. Jussieu's 

 method is merely an improvement upon that of Linneus, 

 by a subdivision'of some of the orders of Linneus, Med- 

 ical students should arrange their plants by one of these 

 natural methods. Or if they could spare time to collect 

 duplicates, so as to arrange one set by the artificial clas- 

 ses, and another by one of the natural methods, it would 

 be still more convenient. 



It seems to be a prevailing opinion among those \vho 

 have no experience in this science, that access to a Botan- 

 ieaigcu'dcii is necessary fora student in botany. This is a 

 great mistake. A Botanical garden is convenient for cul- 

 tivating plants, and is a pleasant acquisition to a medical 

 institution ; but every experienced teacher would prefer 

 wild plants, selected from the fields and forests^ for the 

 .purpose of instructing his pupils. 



Troy, Sept. 1st, 1820. 



