methods of the workers in the two divisions are quite dif- 

 ferent. 



It is perhaps the tendency of the time, at least in many 

 quarters, to underestimate the value of taxonomic research 

 and this is to be regretted since in classification we have 

 the foundations of other branches of work. Entirely aside 

 from the philosophical value of a well ordered classifica- 

 tion, it is an absolute necessity for a starting point of 

 morphology and physiology to have the different species 

 of plants recorded in recognizable form, and, in conse- 

 quence, to have a classification. It would undoubtedly be 

 a great advantage could organisms be classified as are 

 chemical compounds or could be located as the astronom- 

 ers locate the stars and in the same definite and precise man- 

 ner. Such is hardly possible when we reflect that the 

 question of the identity of an organism must, even under 

 favorable conditions, be somewhat a matter of opinion as 

 well as of demonstrated fact. Despite such limitations 

 of taxonomy, in most of the really important questions 

 opinion is fairly universal, so that our classification is not 

 developed simply at the whim of any one investigator. 

 Taxonomy, however, as soon as it is considered an end in 

 itself sinks at once to the level of mere cataloguing or, 

 worse still, loses itself in the mazes of nomenclatorial con- 

 troversy. It must be considered in its relation to the prob- 

 lems of plant distribution, of the evolution of new forms, 

 of its philosophical intent, if it is to retain its vitality. 



I have spoken of artificial classifications in connection 

 with the work of earlier botanists. How then does the 

 natural classification as understood today differ? Pri- 

 marily, it differs in the admission of genetic relationship 

 of forms, a thing not conceived of by older writers. A 

 natural classification implies higher and lower forms, con- 

 nected by intermediate ones in all stages of differentia- 

 tion. However, it does not imply that all these forms exist 



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