256 ON ARTIFICIAL SYSTEMS 



lowing up the same idea, and uniting in your mind all the 

 species whose flowers and fruits are nearly similar, you 

 form a genus. When you have accomplished this, pro- 

 ceed a step further: consider the genus as a unity; and 

 we will then endeavor to make out how the five thousand 

 genera of the vegetable kingdom can be so arranged as 

 to be most easily recognised. But first tell me what is 

 your particular aim in studying botany ? 



Caroline. I wish to be able to find out the name of 

 any plant I may chance to meet with. 



Emily. I confess, for my part, that I am not very 

 anxious about the name ; but I should like to understand 

 the structure of any plant I see, and how far it coincides 

 with or differs from other plants. 



Mrs. JS. You have each answered as I expected. 

 Caroline, who is the youngest, and the most volatile, is 

 satisfied with inquiring after names. Emily, who is old- 

 er, and more considerate, seeks after things. Well, my 

 dears, the learned world have done like you. In the in- 

 fancy of botany, they sought after names : when further 

 advanced, they aimed at learning the essence of things. 

 I shall follow their steps, and first explain to Caroline, 

 by mere nomenclature, how to find out the name of a 

 plant ; and then teach Emily, what has been called, the 

 natural method. But I think you must be tired to-day : 

 we will, therefore, defer it till our next interview. In the 

 mean time, reflect upon the subject ; and let me know, 

 when we meet, which you think may be the best means 

 of attaining the object you each have in view 



CONVERSATION XXII. 



ON ARTIFICIAL SYSTEMS OF CLASSFICATION OF PLANTS. 



Mrs. B. I have promised to explain to you to-day, 

 Caroline, how to discover the name of a plant. But why 

 should you not inquire of some botanist the names of the 



1392. What explanations of individual plants, and the manner in 

 which a genus is formed, are already given 1 1393. What does Mrs. 

 B. now propose doing 1 ? 1394. How does she compare the progress 

 of Botanical science with the ages of Caroline and Emily! 1395. 

 What plan of explaining the science is she further to pursue! 



