THE LITERATURE OF BOTANY. 135 



have laboured to establish it. I have made many discoveries, 

 but have not been able to perfect it, yet while I live I 

 shall continue to labour for its completion. In the meantime 

 I have published what I have been able to discover, and 

 whosoever shall resolve the few plants which still remain 

 shall be my Magnus Apollo." 



In 1790, the great poet Goethe published a pamphlet 

 on the " Metamorphosis of Plants," and we are chiefly 

 indebted to Robert Brown for the elucidation of Goethe's 

 theory, a theory that owes its foundation to Theophrastus, 

 " that certain forms of leaves are modifications whose 

 appearance was very different, demonstrating that the organs 

 to which so many different names are applied, namely, the 

 bracts, calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil, are all modifications 

 of the leaf." Auguste Pyramus de Candolle is one of the 

 botanists of this century who have most contributed to the 

 general adoption of the natural families. It is Dr. Candolle's 

 system that is now most generally followed, and upon this 

 the principal examinations are based. 



But the man of all others to whom modern science is 

 most indebted for perfecting the botanical arrangement of 

 plants is the late Dr. Lindley. After several previous 

 attempts, his " Vegetable Kingdom " was published in 1845, 

 and this work remains a treasury of immense learning, 

 technical knowledge, and vast industry. There have been 

 many works on botany published during the last few years. 

 One I mention : though not perhaps valuable for original 

 research and learning, still it is so as a concise compendium 

 of the science " The Vegetable World," by Louis Figuier. 

 Not the least attractive portion of the work are the numerous 

 illustrations, engraved with exquisite skill by French en- 

 gravers, the great masters in this art. 



