BOTANICAL APHORISMS. 173 
more than the rest. In this case we must reckon by 
the first flower, as it is in general the most perfect. 
In numbering the stamina it is likewise adviseable to 
consider its aflinity with other plants. As examples 
we refer to Ruta; Monotropa, and Chrysosplenium. 
§ 163. 
Too many genera are not to be mades 
This rule is one.of the most important. Many 
genera are a manifest disadvantage to the science. 
Generic differences are not too nicely to be sought 
for. It is the first duty of a botanist to make the 
science as easy and attainable as possible; but by a 
too refined exhibition of generic distinctions he will 
do it more harm than good. 
If we consider as essential every small variation in 
the structure of flower and fruit, the number of ge- 
nera will be multiplied, and the difficulty of the 
science increased. To this fault those are most 
prone who have seen fewest plants. When they 
have seen more, they will discover the intermediate 
plants which unite the different genera, and thus be 
_ forced to join what they formerly separated. I shall 
only here specify the genus Fumaria, several species 
of which have a differently formed pericarpium, but 
which, by a judicious arrangement, all run into one 
another. Linnzus himself has sometimes distin- 
guished too nicely; the difference he makes be- 
tween Prunus and Amygdalus is improper; when 
examined strictly by the foregoing rule, these ge- 
nera ought to be joined, 
§ 165. 
