HISTORY OP BOTANY. 233 



Adanson, previous to the time of the younger Jussieu, had pub- 

 lished a system of classification, in which he arranged plants ac- 

 cording to the resemblance observed in all their organs. In one 

 class, all which had similar roots were placed ; in another, all which 

 had similar stems ; a third was arranged by resemblance of leaves, 

 in their forms and situations ; but the most important distinctions 

 he considered as founded upon the organs of fricctijication. The 

 name of this ingenious botanist is preserved in the Adansonia, or 

 calabash-tree, of Africa, which is considered as the colossus of the 

 vegetable kingdom. 



Among other botanists, we would notice Louis Richard, who 

 wrote in French an interesting account of the Orchideee of Europe, 

 and assisted in compiling from ancient works a very useful botani- 

 cal dictionary. 



Des Fontaines first showed that the stems of monocotyledonous 

 and of dicotyledonous plants differ from each other in their struc- 

 ture and modes of growth ; he divided them into endogenous, grow- 

 ing inwardly, as the palms, and exogenous, growing outwardly, as 

 the oak. 



France is distinguished for the number and accuracy of its natu- 

 ralists. Mirbel, a distinguished professor of Botany in Paris, has 

 pursued his inquiries into the anatomical structure, and the physical 

 operations of plants, to an extent not exceeded by any other natu- 

 ralist; his '■'■Elemens de Botanique" is a splendid work, which forms 

 a very important and valuable addition to a botanical Ubrary. 



The Baron Humboldt spent five years in investigating the vege- 

 table productions of the equatorial regions in America, and his re- 

 marks on vegetables, as a criterion of climate, are original and in- 

 teresting. 



Josephine, the first wife of Napoleon, was distinguished for her 

 fondness of this study ; other ladies of distinction, stimulated by 

 her example, cultivated plants with reference to scientific observa- 

 tions. In England, Mrs. Wakefield, and the industrious and enlight- 

 ened Mrs. Marcet, (author of Conversations on Natural Philosophy, 

 Chemistry, &c.) have distinguished themselves as the authors of 

 useful treatises on Botany.* 



De Candolle's " Elementary Theory of Botany," is highly valued 

 as a scientific and able performance ; but it is useful, rather for 

 those who have already attained a knowledge of the elements of 

 Botany, than for the beginner in the science. The natural method 

 oC Jussieu has been modified and improved by the labours of De 

 CandoUe, Mirbel, Lindley, and Robert Brown. 



In turning from Europe to the United States, we find the state ot 

 literature flourishing, and a taste for the natural sciences becoming 

 extensively diffused. The names of many of our scientific men 

 stand high in Europe, as well as in their own country. Among these 

 are Silliman, who established the first scientific journal,! and en 

 couraged others to pursue the course of investigation which he him 

 self has followed so successfully. Eaton has laboured to bring sci- 

 ence within the reach of every inquirer; not only by rendering the 



* Mrs, Somerville, from the extended views of science which she has exhibited, may, 

 perhaps, be called the scientific woman of her age. 



t Except the Mineralogical Journal of Bruce, which ceased after the appearance ol 

 a few numbers. 



Adanson— Richard— Mirbel— Humboldt— Females who have interested themselvot 

 in the study of Botany— De CandoUe— Silliman— Eaton. 

 20* 



