Linncean and Natural Systems. 53 



' that the Turpentine tree, in none of the succeeding years, bore 

 any fruit that upon examination was found to germinate. 



There was a Palm tree at Berlin, which being the only one of 

 its species in the vicinity, never perfected any fruit, though every 

 year full of the flowers containing pistils. In 1749, when the 

 tree was in full bloom, a staminate branch was sent by post from 

 Leipsic to Berlin, a distance of twenty miles, and suspended over 

 the barren Palm. The consequence was that the tree produced 

 an abundance of fruit, that year, to the great amazement of 

 the inhabitants; it came to full perfection, and many young 

 Palms were raised from the seed. 



We have said enough in relation to the Artificial Orders, 

 without noticing them again. The Genera and Species are 

 the same in both the Natural and Linnaean Systems ; it was 

 impossible to alter the descriptions of the Northern Light with- 

 out doing harm. The names of the Genera are mostly arbi- 

 trary ; some are borrowed from the older poets' fables ; some 

 from the effects they produce when taken internally ; some from 

 their situation or place ; and some from individuals ; and incon- 

 sistent as the method is, it was still more foolishly carried out ; 

 there is lamentably no method in the madness. The specific 

 names fare a little better ; some do profess to describe something 

 recognizable about the plant. The name of Linnaeus is given 

 to a depressed abject Lapland plant, long overlooked ; and that 

 of Ambrosia, the food of the gods, to pig-weed. 



A nomenclature, founded on the fructification, must necessa- 

 rily be imperfect when taken out of its proper sphere, and made 

 to subserve purposes for which it was never intended. The 

 fifth class of Linnaeus, for instance, contains the most deadly 

 poisons ; the most esculent vegetables ; the most agreeable spices ; 

 the most acrid irritants ; the most nauseous scents, and the most 

 agreeable flavors, all- combined together. In it the Potatoe and 

 Egg plant; Peruvian Bark and Coffee; Henbane, Milkweed, 

 Tobacco, Lobelia, Gentian, Beets, Elms, Carrots, Pepper, &c., 

 all find a place. No one was more sensible of this than the 

 Prince of Naturalists himself, who says, that there is a natural 

 method or Nature's system, which we should diligently endeavor 

 to find out That such a system is no chimera will appear par- 

 ticularly, from the fact of no plant being yet discovered that has 

 not an affinity with some others. Any one can see that the 



