104 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May G. 
difficult to determine, which is sufficiently proved by the 
fact, that we have had, of late years, almost as many systems 
of classification as there have been writers on the subject; 
nay, we have one great living authority who has more than 
once re-constructed his entire system. There are, however, 
many points on which the later systems are agreed, which 
may be taken as the generally-acknowledged features of what 
is called the Natural System. 
Our present business, then, is to enquire how far the 
Classes of Linnaeus agree with the Classes and Orders of 
the Natural System. 
Writers on the Natural System of Botany divide all 
flowering plants into two great Classes:— Endogens and 
Exogens, distinguished by well-marked characters, which, 
stated briefly, are as follows:— 
I. In Exogens. —1. The increase in growth by the addition 
of the new layer of woody and cellular matter is at the out¬ 
side, immediately under the bark. 2. The leaves have 
reticulated (or net-like) veins. 3. The parts of the flower 
(petals, sepals, and stamens) are generally distributed in 
fours or fives. 4. The young plants have two seed-leaves 
(or cotyledons), and the plants are, therefore, called 
Dicotyledons. 
II. In Endogens. —1. The increase in growth (in the 
case of perennial plants) is in the centre of the stem. 
2. The leaves have, with few exceptions, parallel veins, 
often found sheathing the stem. 3. The parts of the flower 
are distributed in threes (or a multiple of three). 4. The 
young plants have usually but one seed-leaf, and the plants 
are, therefore, called Monocotyledons.. 
Now, if we turn to the System of Linnaeus, we find no 
recognition whatever of these two great Classes; but both 
are classed together, as though no such difference existed. 
It does happen, indeed, that far the larger number of mouo- 
cotyledonous plants fall into five of the Linnrcan Classes: 
Triandria, Hexandria, Enneandria, Gynandria, and Moncecia; 
but the rest are scattered by ones and twos among several of 
the other classes. This will give us a first insight into the 
Linnwan System: it often turns out to be nearly correct, 
but contains a large number of exceptions. It was said 
above, that one of the distinctive characters of the Natural 
Class Endogens, is that the parts of the flower are arranged 
in threes, hence we see how it is that the throe Classes of 
Linnceus—Triandria, Hexandria, and Enneandria—contain 
many of the Monocotyledons; those three Classes being 
distinguished respectively by having three, six, and nine 
stamens. The Linnaian Class Gynandria consists almost 
entirely of the Natural Order Orchidea. 
To proceed, then, with our examination of the Linnrcan 
System. This is called an artificial system, and justly, for 
the mode of arrangement in the first eleven Classes is 
according to the number of stamens found in the flower. 
In three of these eleven (the third, sixth, and ninth) we have 
seen that the grand primary distinction between Exogens 
and Endogens has been partly hit upon; but in the other 
eight (viz. Mon-, Di-, Tetr-, Pent-, Hept-, Oct, Dec-, and 
Dodec-andria) the great naturalist was not so fortunate; for 
in all these very dissimilar plants are brought together, and 
similar plants separated in a forced and unnatural manner. 
The same remark also applies to the twenty-first and twenty - 
second Classes (Moncecia and Dicecia, characterized re¬ 
spectively by having barren and productive flowers on the 
same and on different plants), and also to the twenty-third 
Class (Polygamia), which consists only of one (British) 
genus, Atriplex, unnaturally separated from the Chenopo- 
, diums of Class 5. Another material defect of this System 
may here be added, viz., that in some Classes—nay, even iu 
some genera—the number of stamens (which are taken as a 
basis of classification) are found to vary on different plants 
of the same Class, genus, or species, and occasionally even 
on different flowers of the same plant. 
Let it be borne in mind, that our object in pointing out 
these faults in the Linnrean arrangement is merely to help 
any young observer who may wish, after having swam with 
the corks of this System, to explore further into the depths 
of the science of Botany by the aid of the Natural System. 
But the Linnrean System is not wholly artificial, and we 
have hitherto been viewing its defective sides. Eight Classes 
have not yet been mentioned; in these the position of the 
stamens rather than their number is taken as a basis of 
classification; and they are found to correspond very nearly 
with certain well-marked natural groups or orders. 
The first of these which remain for our notice is the 
twelfth Class ( Icosandria ). This corresponds pretty nearly 
with the Natural Order Rosacea, a very large tribe of plants 
distinguished both for beauty of appearance and excellence 
of taste. We need only allude, by way of illustration, to 
Roses and Potentillas, Dropworts and Hawthorns, Pears and 
Apples, Raspberries and Strawberries; all belonging to 
Icosandria and Rosacerc. 
The thirteenth Class (Polyandria) consists of plants much 
resembling those of the twelfth, being o-petaled flowers, 
with numerous stamens; but there is this important dif¬ 
ference, that in this class the stamens are attached to the 
corolla, but in Icosandria to the calyx. The plants belong- ' 
ing to it, though often of great beauty, possess disagreeable, 
and often poisonous, properties. The plants of this class 
almost all belong to the Natural Order Ranunculacete. 
The fourteenth Class ( Didynamia ) is also well-marked, 
and contains the two Natural Orders Labiatte and Scrophu- 
laria; familiar instances of the Labiate plants being Mint 
and Dead-nettle; and of the Figworts, Snapdragon and Fox¬ 
glove. 
The fifteenth Class {Tetradynamia) is exactly coterminous 
with the Natural Order Cruciferce; well known in the Turnip, 
Mustard, and like plants; the flowers of which have four 
petals, four sepals, and six stamens, generally, of which four 
are longer than the other two. 
The sixteenth Class ( Monadelphia) contains two Natural 
Orders, the Geraniums and Mallows, and part of another, 
the Conifer a. 
The seventeenth Class ( Diadelphia) consists, in its order 
of Decandria, of the Natural Order Leguminosce, seen in Pea, 
Bean, and Clover plants. 
The eighteenth ( Polydelphia ;) contains only one British 
genus; also, a Natural Order, the Hypericums. 
The nineteenth (Synyenesia) is another instance in which 
the Natural and Linnrcan Systems are found to harmonize. 
The plants belonging to it are such ns the Thistle, Sun- | 
flower, and Dandelion, forming the Natural Order Composite. 
The remaining five classes have been already spoken of; 
and thus we conclude our brief survey of the Linnrcan 
System, in which the object has been to show the student 
how he may use it as a stepping-stone to the Natural 
System, by pointing out on what part of the stone he may 
step firmly and with confidence, and where he should be 
cautious. Some idea, also, may have been gained of the 
interval which separates the two, so that in passing from 
one to the other he will be less likely to flounder between 
them.—Mus. 
CONSEQUENCES. 
Ry the Authoress of “ My Flowers." 
{Concluded from page 10.) 
It is a melancholy sight when an aged couple are sinking 
helplessly into the grave without the comfort of a child's 
affection or watchful care; when they disappear from the 
face of the earth, leaving none to come after them. During 
the earlier portion of Mr. anil Mrs. Grosvenor’s life children ' 
would have been rather a hindrance than a pleasure; and 
they would, probably, have grown up tainted—if not fully 
impressed—with infidel opinions; thus multiplying evil, and 
handing it down to generations yet unborn ; yet, in the sad 
and pitiable plight iu which they now stood, what a blessing 
would a daughter or a grand-daughter have been ! So it 
seems to us; but blessings withheld by the Lord's hand 
would not have been such had we possessed them. Reader, 
if we can bring ourselves fully to believe this, how peacefully 
we shall sit down under privations, and how it will still the 
tempest that too often threatens to overwhelm us! 
Mr. Grosvenor had no relations at all; but Mrs. Grosve- 
nor possessed nephews and nieces, variously occupied, and | 
unable to quit their avocations. One niece, however, was at 
liberty to leave home; and when the situation of her aunt | 
and uncle became known to her she instantly attended 
them. 
Mr. Grosvenor became rapidly worse, that is, weaker and | 
weaker; still, he had no complaint, and his constitution was j 
