22 
LINN,E US 
The ingenious observations which Vaillant made on the sexes of 
the plants attracted the notice of Linnaeus, refined and confirmed his 
own remarks, kindled a fresh light, and soon, in a lucid interval, put 
into the young man’s mind the thought of a New System, by which a 
better order in the division of plants might be introduced, if this divi- 
sion were made from their sexes, from the number of stamina or 
dust-threads and pistilla or dust-ways, a system— (System a Sexuale) 
—of which he became afterwards the creator, which bears his name, and 
was acknowledged in course of time as the best and most exa£t me- 
thod, universally adopted by botanists, and even preferred to the most 
modern ones. 
The ideas of a better theory, which Vaillant had hinted, guided 
now Linn -e us in his botanical observations. He began to consider 
the plants, especially from their new and unimproved side, by their 
sexes, by the number of stamina, and compared them with thei ancient 
system, and the divisions which had till then been used. The farther he 
brought his enquiries, the more deficient did he find the ancient system, 
and the more consistency did he discover in his own thoughts ; in 
short, the greater, the more powerful were the attra&ions of his own 
plan. The sexes of plants now occupied his thoughts day and night ; 
and the fresh knowledge which he obtained by this survey, soon paved 
him the way to a better fortune. 
In the summer of 1730, a disputation was held before Bishop 
Wallin, on the copulation of trees (de nuptiis arborum). 
LiNNyEus was present. The subjeft of the controversy was quite 
familiar to him. None found it more pleasant, nor had any one 
at 
