ARTIFICIAL CLASSES. 
177 
tanist use the term Quercus, and on the supposition that his 
American friend understood Botany, he would at once know 
the meaning of the term as plainly as if it had been written oak. 
All botanical names are in Latin, because this is the language 
most universally studied; and for this reason all books on botany 
were for a long time written in that language.! And although 
it is well for the learned, thus to communicate with each other, 
by one common language, it would be unjust to deprive, of the 
pleasure and improvement to be derived from this science, all 
■\vho are not versed in that language. But the learned are not 
only in general intent upon making discoveries, they also de- 
rive a pleasure in imparling them toothers; and the fountains 
of botanical knowledge have, by the exertions of men of genius 
and learning, been made accessible to all. 
The Classes in the artificial system are 21. 
GROUPS OF CLASSES. 
jf 1st. Tlie first ten classes arc founded upon the number of stamens. 
^ 2d. Eleventh and 'Twelfth , upon the number and insertion of stamens. 
3d. Thirteenth and Fourteenth, upon number and length of stamens. 
4th. Fifteenth , Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Eighteenth, upon connexion 
of stamens. 
5th. Nineteenth and Twentieth, upon position of stamens. 
The Twenty-first class includes all plants which either have not stamens 
and pistils, or in which these organs arc too minute to be seen, without the 
help of a microscope. 
The orders are founded, 
1st. Upon the number of Pistils. 
2d. Upon the seeds being covered, or lying uncovered in the calyx. 
3d. The relative length of the pods. 
4th. The comparison between the disk and ray florets of compound 
flowers. 
5th. Number of Stamens. 
6th The orders of the class Cryptogamia are distinguished by natural 
family characters. 
NAMES OF THE ARTIFICIAL CLASSES. 
1. Monandria, one stamen. 
2. Diaxdria, two stamens. 
3. Triandria, three stamens. 
4. Tetraxdria, four stamens. 
5. Pentaxdria, five stamens. 
6. Hexaxdria, six stamens. 
7. Heptaxdria, seven stamens. 
8. Octandria, eight stamens. 
t All the botanical works of Linna?us were written in Latin. 
Artificial classes considered in groups — Linnaian system-Classes examined 
separately — Circumstances on which the orders are founded — Artificial sys- 
tem. 
