54 Linmean and Natural Systems. 



Grasses, Mosses, Compound flowers, Mints, &c, resemble each 

 other so much as to form natural families. In this manner a few 

 well determined orders are easily arranged, but beyond it all is 

 uncertainty and confusion. It has been said, with truth, that the 

 System of Linnaeus may be compared to a Dictionary, in which, 

 though all the words in it are contained by heart, a person would 

 still be ignorant of the language, unless to it was added a' 

 knowledge of the Grammar to teach the value of the rela- 

 tive terms. This Grammar must be studied in the Natural 

 System, though whether the right one is yet discovered is a mat- 

 ter of some doubt, and there are not a few who confidently ex- 

 pect the advent of a Gould Brown. Dr. Smith remarks, in his 

 Grammar of Botany, art. 85, — That there is scarcely a principle 

 that can be assumed as universal, or without exception, in Natu- 

 ral Classification. Number, in the parts or divisions of each 

 organ, proves often fallacious. Insertion, or the mode of con- 

 nection of the several organs and their comparative situation 

 with regard to each other, is found far less exceptionable. Struc- 

 ture, or the different forms of the same organ in different instan- 

 ces, is of very great moment. 



Linnaeus and Jussieu concur in considering as of primary im- 

 portance the structure of the Embryo and the Cotyledons ; the 

 former of whom declared that the number of the Cotyledons 

 appeared to him to afford a sure basis, or a primary source of 

 discrimination for a Natural System. Dr. Smith states that this 

 principle was good, but some correction of the commonly re- 

 ceived ideas and terms became necessary since the structure and 

 economy of seeds have been more closely investigated. 



Linnaeus composed a Natural System having 59 Orders. So 

 far, however, from considering this perfect, he expressly states 

 that he left it as a kind of model for his successors, merely to 

 serve as a general guide. 



Bernard Jussieu, who never published anything, but, like So- 

 crates, taught in conversation, improved on the System of 

 Linnaeus, so much so as to be called the Father of this branch of 

 the science. His nephew, M. A. Laurent De Jussieu, published 

 his uncle's theory. This was still further improved and develop- 

 ed by De Candolle, since whose time it has been continually 

 changing, perhaps for the better. 



It should be remembered that Natural Classification aims at 



