Natural History, 129 



tdtanist set out with reviving the distinction of 

 plants into herbs and trees, which had been ex- 

 ploded by RiviNus. In his method there are 

 tvrenty-two classes, and one hundred and tvv^enty- 

 two orders, denominated sections. The former 

 founded on the regularity and figure of the petals^ 

 together with the situation of the receptacle of 

 the flowers; the latter on the pistillum and calyx. 

 Botanical writers generally speak of Tournefort's 

 as the first regular and complete arrangement. 

 He was certainly the first who ascertained and 

 exhibited the genera of plants in a scientific man- 

 ner; and, indeed, in general merit, as a systematic 

 writer, he went far beyond all his predecessors. 

 About the same time. Dr. Herman, Professor of 

 Botany at Leyden, proposed a new system. He 

 augmented the number of classes to twenty-five^ 

 founding their characters chiefly on i\it fruit. He 

 divided his classes into eighty-two sections or or- 

 ders, having for their basis the number of petals^ 

 seeds y capsules, and cells; the figure of the seeds 

 and petals; and the disposition of the flowers. 

 This system appears to have gained but little 

 popularity. To the method of Herman suc- 

 ceeded that of Dr. Boerhaave, first published in 

 1710, and afterwards, with great additions, in 

 1720. He made a sort of combination of the sys- 

 tem of Ray, Tournefort, and Herman, with 

 additions and improvements from his own great 

 mind. He increased the number of classes still 

 further, to thirty-four, which were subdivided into 

 one hundred and four sections or orders; the cha- 

 racters of which were derived from the habit or 

 general appearance of the plants, combined with 

 all the parts of fructification. He was the first 

 who employed the stamina and style in determin- 

 ing the genus. To this luminary of science, bo- 

 tany is much indebted. He introduced many new^ 



