32 PRINCIPLES OF CLASSIFICATION. 



instances artificial, breaking natural affinities, or 

 producing unnatural ones ; defects inevitable in all 

 such undertakings, from our imperfect acquaintance 

 with the Vegetable productions of the whole globe. 



82. In the Systematic arrangement of Plants, whether 

 artificial or natural, some botanists consider one 

 part of the fructification (49), others another part, 

 more important than the rest. 



83. As far as Artificial Classification (78) is concern- 

 ed, this is little more than a matter of opinion ; but 

 the Linnsean System, as being founded on the num- 

 ber, situation, and proportion, of the Stamens and 

 I istils (58, 59), organs which must exist in some 

 shape or other, has been found the most commo- 

 dious, and has put aside every other. 



84. Such a mode of arrangement answers the purpose 

 of a dictionary, to find out plants by their charac- 

 ters, as words by their orthography. 



85. There is scarcely a principle which can be assumed 

 as universal, or without exception, in Natural 

 Classification. Number, in the parts or divisions 

 of each organ, proves often fallacious ; Insertion, 

 or the mode of connexion of the several organs, 

 and their comparative situation, with regard to each 

 other, is found far less exceptionable ; Structure^ 

 or the different forms of the same organ, in different 

 instances, is of very great moment. 



S6\ Linnaeus and Jussieu concur in considering as of 

 primary importance the Structure (85) of the Em- 



