258 ON ARTIFICIAL SYSTEMS 



enclose a large space of ground, but, gradually narrowing 

 the circle, drive them gently towards the centre ; where 

 they have no resource but to run into the trap, which is 

 there open to them. 



Mrs. B. Well, botanical nomenclature is very much 

 the same thing. Indeed, the analytical method the sim- 

 plest hitherto used is exactly similar to the game of 

 Four-and-twenty Questions. It was first introduced by 

 M. De Lamarck, and forms the basis of a work he pub- 

 lished, with M. De Candolle, called the Flore Francoise. 



Here is a plant in blossom in this flower-pot : I know 

 that it grows wild in the south of France. I shall ask 

 you a few questions relative to it, according to the meth- 

 od followed in the Flore Francoise, and you will see that 

 you will soon discover the name of the plant yourself. 



Caroline. Oh, that will be very amusing. 



Mrs. B. First, then, tell me whether the flowers are 

 visible to the naked eye, or whether they require to be 

 seen through a microscope ? 



Caroline. The plant is quite covered with them, and 

 they are perfectly visible ; for you may see them from 

 some distance. 



Mrs. B. Are the flowers united by an involucrum or not ? 



Caroline. No ; they have no involucrum. 



Mrs. B. Have the flowers both pistils and stamens, 

 or only one of these organs ? 



Caroline. They have both. 



Mrs B. Have the flowers both a corolla and a calyx ? 



Caroline. Yes ; they have both. 



Mrs. B. Is the corolla of one entire piece, or com- 

 posed of several parts ? 



Caroline. It consists of several parts. 



Mrs. B. In this case, I must refer to No. 211. of the 

 Flore Francoise; and pray tell me, does the ovary adhere 

 to the calyx or not ? 



Caroline. It adheres to the calyx, and is consequent- 

 ly situated below the petals. 



Mrs. B. Are there several ovaries ? 



Caroline. No ; only one. 



1401. To what does Emily say it is like 1 ? 1402. Who introduced 

 the method of studying Botany here named! 14Q3. How does Mrs. 

 B. propose to teach her pupils the manner of ascertaining the name of 

 some particular flower? 



