BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 106 



her of stamens often varies in the same species. 

 You will often find Tulips with from three to 

 eight stamens. 



Li. How do they manage in such a case ? 



E. By discovering the number usually found 

 and classing them accordingly. Number is very 

 little to be relied on. but it is still that, you see, 

 on which the whole system is based. 



L. Then, if the system is so very imperfect, 

 why did you take such pains to induce me to 

 learn it ? 



E. Without understanding it you could make 

 but little proficiency in botany, for the majority 

 of the works written on it are based upon the 

 Linnean system. 



L. What is the great difference between the 

 two systems ? 



E. That of Linneus considers only the organs 

 of fructification, or the stamens and pistils, while 

 the other takes the most important parts of the 

 plant, the fruit and seed. But you must re- 

 member that the information you acquire in 

 learning one will be of great, use in studying 

 the other. So far from the natural being a per- 

 fect system, many eminent botanists of the pre- 

 sent day have used the former in preference. 



