PRSriCE ▼. 



This, iho Lannapan Artificial system doos not do, and the two works allu- 

 ded to nre arranged by this system. The Natural System accomplishes 

 this im|)orlant end, and should therefore bo substituted tor the Artiilcial 

 system, which is now so prevalent. 



The Artificial System of Linnaeus. Ojx;rates by a constant violation of 

 c\erN principle of even a coiumon sense arran<ieineiit, not to say of a 

 strictly philosophical one. That Linnaeus himself intended this arrange- 

 ment as only a temporary one, is abundantly proved by his own expressions . 

 •' The artificial method," says he, " is but a substitute for the natural, to 

 which it must in due time give place. The Natural Method is, and must 

 be, tin principal object of the science ; the elucidation of wliich is the first 

 and ultimate aun of Botanists." [Gmi/'s Botany, p. 309.] It would l>e use- 

 less to add another remark to show the estimation in which Linnajus viewed 

 his own system. Antl no one can unai^ne. that a Philosopher of Linnaeus' 

 sagacity. coiUd ever have thought of fastening ujwn the world a system 

 which violates every principle on which all other natural objects have been 

 classed. As well might animals be classed by the number of their teeth, 

 as plants by the number of their stamens; as well might birds and fishes 

 be thrown into the same class, as grasses and forest trees. It is opposed, 

 in fact, to our very idea of classification. Professor Lindley justly remarks, 

 " No one has thought of first combining under the name of the animal 

 kingdom, quadrupeds and birds, insects and fishes, reptiles and molusca, 

 and then of suWividing them by the aid of a few arbitrary signs, in such a 

 way that a portion of each should be found in every group — quadrupeds 

 among birds and fishes, reptiles, among insects and manunalia; but each 

 great natural group has been confined within its proper limits. Botany 

 aloQC, of all the branches of natural history, has been treated otherwise: 

 and this in modern times." 



The limits of this Preface forbid our entering upon the comparative mer- 

 its of the two methotls, but that the Natural System possesses almost infinite 

 advantages over the Linn.-Ban Artificial System, may be most easily demon- 

 strated. Tliat it oHers fewer obstacles to the student in gaining a real 

 knowledge of the name, nature, and constitution of vegetables, is acknowl- 

 edged by all, who are acquainted with both. One great objection to 

 the u»c of the Linnajan arrangement is, tliat .students are led b}- the 

 ea.se of taking the first step, to suppo.sc that they are Botanists when that 

 is taken, when in fact, they know nothing of the subject ; and when the 

 student meets with a difl^culty, he must possess the most unwearied pa- 

 tience to surmount it. and when this is surmounted, it aids him but little 

 in conquering future ditTicuUies. The reverse is true of the Natural Sys- 

 tem; every step is a decided help in taking the next. 



The principal facts connected with the structure and functions of the 

 various vegetable organs, are given in the First Part of the work, and we 

 trust they may l»c found useful to tlir practical agriculturalist, as well as to 

 the student. 



Another feature in this work, as at first intended, was to give the prin- 

 ciples of (Very department of the science. But from our space being lim- 



