1834.] 



Observations on Botany, <^c. 



318 



important to mankind, yet, that it is far from being independent of 

 the second, since considerable knowledge of vegetable physiology 

 is required to enable the cultivator to turn it to the best account ; 

 in other words, it is necessary to combine both science and art, 

 since it is well known, that the same plants differently cultivated 

 often possess different properties, a fact which physiology alone en- 

 ables us to explain. 



To the medical botanist an intimate knowledge of systematic bo- 

 tany is indispensible, as it is certain, that plants agreeing in external 

 form, and having a similar structure of seed .or in other words, plants 

 belonging to the same Natural Order possess similar properties. 

 This fact now well ascertained, proves that this hitherto, except by 

 botanists, much despised and little understood part of botany, is in 

 truth a most important branch of the science, since it often enables 

 us at a glance to determine, whether we may safely use plants other- 

 wise unknown to us, or whether we ought to reject them, on account 

 of their belonging to orders having none, or many poisonous species; 

 as well as assists in so directing our enquiries, as to lead to the dis- 

 covery of properties that might otherwise have escaped observation. 



Systematic Botany by teaching us to discover the name of an un- 

 known plant, enables us at the same time to discover its uses and 

 properties, so far as yet unknown, and to make known such as we 

 ourselves have learned, in such a way as to ensure their not being 

 lost again ; and by teaching us to describe a plant correctly, enables 

 us to make known to systematic authors, such new plants as we 

 may ourselves discover. In doing so, we ought to add to the descrip- 

 tion, notes on their useful properties, and the mode of procuring them, 

 native names written, if possible, in both Roman and native charac- 

 ters should accompany. These however are not to be implicitly re- 

 lied upon, as a means of again procuring the plant, for it often hap- 

 pens, that a plant has different native names, and still oftener, that 

 the same name is given to different plants. In this country a na- 

 tive name, written in Roman characters only, is generally useless for 

 discovering a plant not otherwise known, as natives can seldom read 

 it, and it is next to impossible to convey to one unacquainted with 

 them, the sounds of one language, by the symbols of another. This 

 is an almost insurmountable obstacle to their use, rarely adverted to 

 by those, who strongly advocate the introduction of vernacular 

 names into Botanical works, under the impression, that they may be 

 useful to future travellers. Influenced by these considerations, we 

 would suggest that the greatest care should be bestowed on the se- 



