378 PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY, ETC. 
duced when it was first formed, or did these new 
Species originate at later periods, and in succession . 
from a commixture of different genera? These ques- 
tions will scarcely ever be answered in a satisfactory 
manner. Linné and some cther botanists think, 
that in the beginning there were genera only, by a 
commixture of which afterwards species were pro- 
duced, which again in the same manner gave rise to 
other subspecies. But this is scarcely to’ be ad- 
mitted ; for im that case, even in our days, such 
commixtures of various genera would give birth 
to new species, and this certainly would be no- 
ticed by philosophers. If that Infinite Power, 
which to the whole universe gave its existence, 
formed. different genera, why should it not have 
created the species? All in nature is harmony, and 
one thing is dependent on another, like the most 
compound mechanism. No doubt, therefore, that 
the great Author of things created most of our plants, 
as they now are. Perhaps some genera of plants, 
numberless species of which exist in one country, 
have, one or another, produced their species, by 
commixture of each other. We find, fo rnstance, at 
the Cape of Good Hope, of the genus Erica more 
than a hundred species; of Ixia and Gladiolus, about 
40; of Protea, 62; and of Mesembryanthemum 
near 100; not to mention many other genera there, 
full of species. The great likeness of some of them, 
which makes it often very difficult to point out a 
distinguishing character, seems to prove this still 
more. 
oy That 
