252 ON THE CLASSIFICATION 



Caroline. Oh, yes ; there is the white rose, the yellow 

 rose, the China rose, and many others, which are very 

 much alike ; and yet the gardener assures me that the seed 

 of the one will never produce the other. 



Emily. Red clover, white clover, and yellow clover, 

 bear also a similar resemblance to each other, though 

 they are all of different species. 



Mrs. B. Your examples are well chosen ; for the most 

 ignorant person could understand them. Species bear- 

 ing this analogy are classed together under the name of 

 Genera. The resemblance of the different species com- 

 posing some of the genera is so striking, that their affini- 

 ty cannot be mistaken ; while in others it is less marked, 

 and requires some study to be recognised. 



Caroline. Like different children of the same family, 

 some of whom are so much alike that you see at once 

 they are brothers and sisters ; while, in others, the rela- 

 tionship cannot be traced in their features. 



Mrs. B. The word genus is a Latin word, signifying 

 family : your comparison, therefore, cannot but be accu- 

 rate ; and, by following it up, I think you may acquire an 

 idea of the whole system of nomenclature. You may easily 

 conceive, that if there were a separate name for each of the 

 sixty thousand species of plants, no memory could retain 

 them ; nor could these names point out the resemblances 

 or differences which exist between the several species. 



Emily. Of course ; just as if every individual of a 

 country had a different surname : it would be impossible 

 to know, among which of them, any relationship existed. 



Mrs. B. I see that you have nearly made out the sim- 

 ple art of nomenclature. Each genus has a substantive 

 name ; as rose, carrot, clover : to which is added the epi- 

 thet of white, black, large, small, to designate each spe- 

 cies ; so that, instead of sixty thousand names, five thou- 

 sand only are sufficient : to which are added a certain 

 number of epithets in common use, and understood by 

 every one. 



Emily. There is, then, really a great analogy between 

 the nomenclature of plants and that of mankind, for the 



1372. What instances are mentioned of different species bearing a 

 striking resemblance to each other 1 ? 1373. What are genera and 

 what is said of them! 1374. What is said of the word genus; and 

 how is the importance of its use in Botany illustrated 7 ? 1375. What 

 further illustration of its advantage is given ; and how much is the number 

 of names in Botany diminished 1 



