228 
COMPARISON OF THE TWO SYSTEMS OF BOTANY. 
as a term, is discontinued, and the curious nectariferous processes are called petal- 
like appendages. The valves of the capsule (two thirds of which are inferior) are 
twisted almost as much as the seed-vessel of Streptocmpos. 
We have no desire to render our Magazine the instrument of controversy ; but 
we might be deemed guilty of injustice and discourtesy did we not afford a place 
to the preceding remarks of our respected correspondent, particularly as we believe 
they will meet with an unqualified response from many of our readers. Equally 
wanting should we be in duty to ourselves, if we allowed our previous declarations 
to remain undefended. Perhaps, w T ere our own paper carefully perused in con- 
junction with that now inserted, further refutation of the points on which a differ- 
ence of opinion is manifest would appear unnecessary. We are willing, however, 
to assume that the subject may yet be placed in a clearer light ; and therefore trust 
we shall be pardoned for here reverting to it. 
That a knowledge of the Linnaean arrangement is useful as a preliminary step 
to the acquirement of the Natural Method, or to those who can be satisfied with 
the vague and uncertain assistance it imparts, we have already asserted. But we 
profess ourselves totally at issue with our correspondent when he attempts to define 
the extent of its utility. Nor can we by any means admit the supposed analogy 
between the Linnaean Classes and the Natural Orders. The latter assuredly bring 
us much nearer to the Genera than even the Orders of Linnaeus, and may fairly be 
considered as situated between these two, though decidedly less removed from the 
former. 
It is stated that the system of Linnaeus is an easier guide to genera than the 
Jussieuan. Could this position be maintained, our readers may be assured that no 
article would have ever been published by us expressive of anything but disappro- 
bation of this much aspersed Natural System. But we undertake to show, in the 
papers which we shall from time to time furnish, that the direct converse of this is 
the case. It is barely possible that any one who has sought extensive aid from 
the Linnaean arrangement, can have escaped being most miserably chagrined at 
finding many plants comparatively as erratic in the number of stamens they 
produce, as in the development of flowers themselves. We may mention one 
instance which recently occurred beneath Dr. Lindley's observation, and is recorded 
in the Botanical Register, p. 47. Bauhinia corymbosa, a rather scarce stove 
plant, is found to bear flowers, some of which are distinctly referable to no fewer 
than eight Linnaean classes or orders. Other illustrations are omitted on account of 
our limited space ; but we could adduce a considerable number which would equally 
invalidate the claims of our Linnaean apologist ; and although not of so extraor- 
dinary a nature, it is not the degree in which they depart from the established 
rules, but the mere fact of their deviation, which lessens, indeed destroys, the value 
of the system. 
This being an essential defect in the arrangement itself, we boldly ask who 
