300 Historical Notice of 



The lists used in his demonstrations, worn out by use, often renew- 

 ed, covered with notes and additions, and at last presenting not 

 only the list of the genera and species cultivated, but the characters 

 of the families and most frequently those of the genera concisely 

 and perspicuously indicated, — all shew that these eleven years 

 were diligently employed in bringing his natural method nearer 

 perfection. From the year 1770, Bernard de Jussieu, now 71 

 years of age, ceased entirely to take any charge of the garden, which 

 he wholly entrusted to his nephew ; his health, and particularly his 

 sight, became feeble, and in 1777^ after having experienced several 

 attacks of apoplexy, he finished his long career — a career which 

 had in reality so much influence on the progress of botany, although 

 in appearance it had been productive of little. 



A comparison of dates will suffice to show what portions of the 

 natural method, as explained in the Genera Plantarum of 1789* 

 are due to Bernard de Jussieu, and what to his nephew. The ar- 

 rangement at Trianon, formed in 17«^9, proves that the classification 

 of the families according to the cotyledons and the insertion of the 

 stamens, is due to Bernard de Jussieu ; Antoine-Laurent de Jussieu, 

 while studying this series, and receiving his early botanical educa- 

 tion from his uncle, probably drew up the first principles of the 

 science ; but every thing proves that the influence of Bernard de 

 Jussieu on the works of his nephew is limited to this. 



In fact, Bernard de Jussieu's three note-books relative to the order 

 of the garden at Trianon, contain not a single character either of 

 the classes, families, or genera ; there is not even an indication of 

 any of the classes except those of the Monocotyledones and Dico- 

 tyledones. In his notes on the cards we find some generic charac- 

 ters accompanied with sketches of the section of the seed ; but these 

 cards, carefully preserved by his family, are far from numerous. 



This method of description on cards {carles) was followed by his 

 nephew ; they are frequently dated, and amount to a great number 

 in 1774. 



Finally, the oldest notes used in his demonstrations by Antoine- 

 Laurent, bear the characters of the families, which are not found in 

 any of those belonging to Bernard. 



Thus the first principles of the classification are due to Bernard 

 de Jussieu, but the profound and sagacious application of these 

 principles and the true institution of the natural families are to be 

 ascribed to Laurent. 



In 1785, Desfontaines succeeded Lemonnier, and A. L. de Jus- 

 sieu discontinued his demonstrations as the substitute of the latter. 



