ANNOTATIONS AND ADDITIONS. 115 



from our eyes all that relates to the manner of the first 

 creation and commencement of organic beings. 



If, then, we would attempt to solve the question spoken 

 of in the early part of this dissertation,, by giving in 

 an approximate manner the numerical limit, (le nombre 

 limite of French mathematicians), which the whole phane- 

 rogamse now existing on the surface of the earth cannot 

 be supposed to fall short of, we may perhaps find our safest 

 guide in a comparison of the numerical ratios (which, as 

 we have seen, may be assumed to exist between the different 

 families of plants), with the number of species contained in 

 herbariums and cultivated in our great botanic gardens. 1 

 have said that in 1820 the number of species contained in 

 the herbariums of the Jardin des Plantes at Paris was 

 already estimated at 56000. I do not permit myself to 

 conjecture the amount which the herbariums of England 

 may contain; but the great Paris herbarium, which was 

 formed with much personal sacrifice by Benjamin Delessert, 

 and given by him for free and general use, was stated at 

 his death to contain 86000 species; a number almost equal 

 to that which, as late as 1835, was conjecturally assigned 

 by Lindley as that of all the species existing on the whole 

 earth. (Lindley, Introduction to Botany, 2d edit. p. M)4.) 

 1'ew herbariums have been reckoned with care, after a com- 

 plete and strict separation and withdrawal of all mere varie- 

 ties. Not a few plants contained in smaller collections are 

 still wanting in the greater herbariums which are supposed 

 to be general or complete. Dr. Klotzsch estimates ttie 

 present entire number of phsenogamous plants in the great 



