CLASSIFICATION. 283 



The division of the objects into a subordinated system of 

 classification enables us to introduce a Nomenclature which 

 does not require this enormous number of names. Each of the 

 genera has its name, and the species are marked by the addi- 

 tion of some epithet to the name of the genus. In this manner 

 about seventeen hundred generic names, with a moderate 

 number of specific names, were found hy Linnaeus sufficient to 

 designate with precision all the species of vegetables known 

 at his time." And though the number of generic names has 

 since greatly increased, it has not increased in anything like 

 the proportion of the multiplication of known species. 



