HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. XXXIX 



Charles Darwin in those ohservations which have rendered his 

 name so widely known ; Darwinism heing almost the only- 

 form of English thought which is prevalent abroad. 



Systematic botany is not neglected in modern days, as 

 testified by MM. de CandoUe's Prodromus, followed up by 

 the Monographiae. Another work of the highest importance, 

 which is now drawing near its completion, is the Genera 

 plantarum of Mr. Bentham and Sir J. D. Hooker. Drawn 

 up chiefly from the plants themselves, and not merely a com- 

 pilation from other authors, it must remain for a long time to 

 come the standard authority in the botanical world, as regards 

 genera and their sequence. 



Local floras are more than ever abundant. The Flora austra- 

 liensis, by Mr. Bentham, is a complete account of the vegeta- 

 tion of a far larger district than has previously appeared. The 

 floras of British India and of Tropical Africa are likewise in 

 progress, under the supervision of the Director of the Royal 

 Gardens, Kew, who is keenly alive to the importance of 

 vigorously carrying on such publications, and continuing the 

 activity shown by his father, Sir W. J. Hooker. 



Physiological and morphological studies are clearly in the 

 ascendant at this moment, especially on the continent of 

 Europe. Much attention is now being given to the influence 

 of the lower forms of vegetable life upon the higher, upon 

 animals, and upon man himself. Science has now penetrated 

 into schools, and a host of admirable text-books have been 

 provided for teaching purposes, many of them by eminent 

 botanists. Thus the area under observation is both deepened 

 and widened, and ofiers ample scope for accurate observation 

 and philosophic induction. 



