ORIGIN OF THE SEXUAL SYSTEM. 



53 



as the fructification in other vegetables, though it may differ in 

 particular circumstances, has yet, in general, a manifest con- 

 formity with that of the palm-tree, in respect to the parts sup- 

 posed to be the organs of generation, which are discoverable either 

 on the same, or on a separate flower, in all but the class Crypto- 

 gamia, where they are too< minute for observation ; so from this 

 single experiment we may fairly draw an argument, by analogy, 

 for the confirmation of the whole sexual hypothesis: but there 

 are, -as has been said, other, and stronger proofs. We have al- 

 ready directed the reader to those stated by Linnteus; whoever 

 desires farther satisfaction concerning this point, may see the se- 

 veral demonstrations collected, and methodically connected in . 

 the Sponsalia Plantarum of J. Gustavus Walkbloom, published in 

 the Amoenitates Academics at Ley dm, in 1749. 



The Sexual System was invented by Linneeus, professor of 

 physic and botany, at Upsal. a It is founded on the parts of fruc- 

 tification described in the former part of this work : these having 

 been observed with more accuracy, since the discovery of the 

 uses for which Nature has assigned them, a new set of princi- 

 ples have been derived from them ; by means of which, the dis- 

 tribution of plants has been brought to a greater precision, and 

 rendered more conformable to true philosophy in this system, 

 than in any one of those which preceded it. The author of it 

 does not pretend to call it a natural one ; he gives it as artificial 

 only, arid modestly owns his inability to detect the order pur- 

 sued by Nature in her vegetable productions : but of this he 

 seems confident, that no natural system can ever be framed, 

 without taking in the materials, out of which he has raised his 

 own ; and urges the necessity of admitting artificial systems for 

 convenience, till one truly natural shall appear*. 



* Linnaws has given Fragmenta Methodi iwturalis, Fragments of the natural Me- 

 thod, in which he has made a distribution of plants under various orders, putting toge- 

 ther in each, such as appear to have a natural affinity to each other. This appear, after 

 a long and fruitless search after the natural method, he gives as the result of his 



