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LI NNyE US 



The ingenious observations which Vail l ant made on the sexes of 

 the plants attrafted the notice of LiNNyEus, refined and confirmed his 

 own remarks, kindled a fresh light, and soon, in a lucid interval, put 

 into the young man's mind the thought of a New System, by which a 

 better order in the division of plants might be introduced, if this divi- 

 sion were made from their sexes, from the number of stamina or 

 dust-threads and pistilla or dust-ways, a system — (Systema Sexuale) 

 — of which he became afterwards the creator, which bears his name, and 

 was acknowledged in course of time as the best and most exaft me- 

 thod, universally adopted by botanists, and even preferred to the most 

 modern ones. 



The ideas of a better theory, which Vai leant had hinted, guided 

 now LiNN.-Eus in his botanical observations. He began to consider 

 the plants, especially from their new and unimproved side, by their 

 sexes, by the number of stamina, and compared them with the ancient 

 system, and the divisions which had till then been used. The farther he 

 brought his enquiries, the more deficient did he find the ancient system, 

 and the more consistency did he discover in his own thoughts ; in 

 short, the greater, the more powerful were the attradions of his own 

 plan. The sexes of plants now occupied his thoughts day and night ; 

 and the fresh knowledge which he obtained by this survey, soon paved 

 him the way to a better fortune. 



In the summer of 1730, a disputation was held before Bishop 

 Wall IN, on the copulation of trees fde nuptiis arhorumj. 

 LiNN^us was present. The subjeft of the controversy was quite 

 familiar to him. None found it more pleasant, nor had any one 



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