HOW TO CLASSIFY THEM. 251 



tion to be paid to botanical science. This, though 

 shrouded in what seem hard names, will be found in 

 practice a not difficult matter, while at the same time 

 it opens up a new world to the observer, even as 

 the contemplation of his dried treasures brings back 

 vividly the bright scenes and pleasant hours in which 

 they were gathered. 



The old herbalists thought they recognized the 

 dominion of the planets over the " stars of earth," 

 and proclaimed their virtues accordingly. The more 

 skilful man of science has done more than this : he 

 has classified their outward symbols and formed them 

 into a language, the rudiments of which any one may 

 acquire. 



The most simple of modern systems of reading 

 these signs, which tell us of the " wondrous truths " 

 of the plant world is that which bears the name of 

 Linnaeus, the great Swedish naturalist. The truer 

 but more abstruse and difficult system is one formed 

 on the natural order or arrangement of the plants 

 themselves, and is known as the Natural system, in 

 contradistinction to that of Linnaeus. Every plant 

 will be found to belong to some family of various 

 extent ; and though it may be in itself uninteresting, 



