CHAPTER VI. 



OF THE SEXUALITY OF VEGETABLES. 



THE doctrine of the sexuality of vegetables and 

 foundation of the Linnsean system, though but 

 lately established upon the basis of logical induc- 

 tion, is by no means a novel doctrine. It cannot, 

 however, be said that the original notion of a sexual 

 distinction as existing in vegetables was at all cor- 

 rect. It was a conjecture formed at random, rather 

 than an opinion founded upon the evidence of fact ; 

 which maintained its ground, however, for a period 

 of many ages, though wholly unsupported by any 

 convincing argument, till at last the elucidations of 

 Linnaeus established it beyond a doubt. The fol- 

 lowing brief sketch of the origin^ progress, and 

 proofs of the doctrine, from the earliest notices re- 

 corded in history down to the present times, will 

 furnish the reader with the evidence on which the 

 above remarks are founded. 



SECTION I. 



Anticipations of the Ancients. 



IT cannot now be ascertained with whom or at 

 what particular period the notion of vegetable sexu- 



