the Science of Eotcmy. j 



they may have been well preferved, yet fome 

 of thofe eflential parts of their flowers and fruits 

 from whence he has taken their charadters, 

 may have been v^/anting ; or at lead fo much 

 impaired, as to render it impoffible for any 

 one, abfolutely to determine their clafies or ge- 

 nera : therefore future obfervations on the 

 plants made by perfons of Hcill, who have oppor- 

 tunities of examining them when growing and 

 in a perfedl ftate, it is hoped may reduce this 

 method nearer to a natural one. 



The following circumftances are excluded 

 by Dr. LinnceiiSy from having any fhare in 

 diftinguifliing the fpecies from varieties, ^viz. 

 fexy magnitude, time of flowering, colour, fcenty 

 tajie^ virtues and ufes, duration^ midtitudey 

 pubefcensy leaves and monjlrous fowers. Molt 

 of which it muft be confefTed, fliould not be 

 allowed as diftingui(hing characters to fpecies i 

 but there are fome which muft be admitted, 

 where other marks are wanting to diftinguifh 

 two fpecies which have great affinity, pro- 

 vided the charaders fo ufed are permanent : 

 and thefe we find have been frequently ufed 

 by Dr. Linnceus himfelf in his later works, 

 with great propriety, and it may be prefumed 

 as he becomes more knowing, he will adopt 

 many more. For inftance in the Crocus, the 

 Dodtor has fuppofed that the vernal forts are 



a 4 only 



