236 Martins, on the Life and Labors of De Candolle. 



De Candolle began his great work in the year 1818, in an ex- 

 tended form, under the title of Regni Vegetabilis tiystema Natu- 

 rale. Two volumes had already appeared, when he perceived 

 that so immense a field laughed to scorn the limits of human 

 life ; he therefore adopted a condensed form, and published seven 

 volumes between the years 1824 and 1S38. With an enthusiasm 

 which has perhaps never inspired any other botanist, he devoted 

 the greater part of the day to this gigantic task. Still he was 

 not able to go through the whole extent of the vegetable king- 

 dom in this manner. The work was interrupted by his death in 

 the middle of the eighth volume ; and a great portion of the so- 

 cailed Alonopetalcus plants, as well as the classes of Monocotyle- 

 dones and Arotyledones, are yet untouched. 



De Candolle appears peculiarly great in the accurate compre- 

 hension of the characters both of genera and species. In the 

 description of distinctive marks, he not unfrequently departs from 

 the terminology of the Linnsean school. Whilst he at times de- 

 scribes a given object with admirable art, conveying the most 

 lively image to the mind, his expressions occasionally fail of 

 this distinctness. No one who can realize the greatness of the 

 task, will be surprised that amidst such an overwhelming mass 

 of materials, some objects should be described after a less thorough 

 examination and scrutiny. But we never fail to recognize the 

 intelligent, penetrating systematize!', furnished with the happiest 

 talent for combination, even when not altogether fortunate or 

 thorough in his observation of the particular subject. Well has 

 the greatest English botanist said of him — his head is still better 

 than his eye. 



De Candolle has given a fuller development of his morphologi- 

 cal and systematic views respecting particular families of plants 

 and genera, in a series of treatises which have been regarded as 

 models of monographical labor by all systematic botanists.* It 

 should be particularly mentioned here that he enriched the geog- 

 raphy of plants, elevated by Alex, von Humboldt to the dignity of 

 a peculiar science, with many important facts, and exhibited also 

 the practical side of this study. His general views on this sub- 

 ject are laid down in a valuable Essai Elementairede Geographie 



* Memoires sur la famille des Legumineuscs, Par. 1825, 4to. Collection de Me- 

 moires pour servir a VHistoirc du Regne Vegetal. Par. 1828 — 1838. (10 Mem.) 



