HISTORY OF BOTANY. 
233 
Adanson, previous to the time of the younger Jussieu, had pub¬ 
lished a system of classification, in which he arranged plants ac¬ 
cording to the resemblance observed in all their organs. In one 
class, all which had similar roots were placed ; in another, all which 
had similar stems ; a third was arranged by resemblance of leaves , 
in their forms and situations; but the most important distinctions 
he considered as founded upon the organs of fructification. The 
name of this ingenious botanist is preserved in the Adansonia, or 
calabash-tree, of Africa, which is considered as the colossus of the 
vegetable kingdom. 
Among o'ther botanists, we would notice Louis Richard, who 
wrote in French an interesting account of the Orchideae of Europe, 
and assisted in compiling from ancient works a very useful botani¬ 
cal dictionary. 
Des Fontaines first showed that the stems of monocotyledonous 
and of dicotyledonous plants differ from each other in their struc¬ 
ture and modes of growth; he divided them into endogenous , grow¬ 
ing inwardly, as the palms, and exogenous , growing outwardly, as 
the oak. 
France is distinguished for the number and accuracy of its natu¬ 
ralists. Mirbel, a distinguished professor of Botany in Paris, has 
pursued his inquiries into the anatomical structure, and the physical 
operations of plants, to an extent not exceeded by any other natu¬ 
ralist; his u EIemens de Botanique ” is a splendid work, which forms 
a very important and valuable addition to a botanical library. 
The Baron Humboldt spent five years in investigating the vege¬ 
table productions of the equatorial regions in America, and his re¬ 
marks on vegetables, as a criterion of climate, are original and in¬ 
teresting. 
Josephine, the first wife of Napoleon, was distinguished for her 
fondness of this study; other ladies of distinction, stimulated by 
her example, cultivated plants with reference to scientific observa¬ 
tions. In England, Mrs. Wakefield, and the industrious and enlight¬ 
ened Mrs. Marcet, (author of Conversations on Natural Philosophy, 
Chemistry, &c.) have distinguished themselves as the authors of 
useful treatises on Botany.* 
De Candolle’s “ Elementary Theory of Botany,” is highly valued 
as a scientific and able performance; but it is useful, rather for 
those who have already attained a knowdedge of the elements of 
Botany, than for the beginner in the science. The natural method 
of Jussieu has been modified and improved by the labours of De 
Candolle, Mirbel, Lindley, and Robert Brown. 
In turning from Europe to the United States, we find the state ot 
literature flourishing, and a taste for the natural sciences becoming 
extensively diffused. The names of many of our scientific men 
stand high in Europe, as well as in their own country. Among these 
are Silliman, who established the first scientific journal,f and en¬ 
couraged others to pursue the course of investigation which he him¬ 
self has followed so successfully. Eaton has laboured to bring sci¬ 
ence within the reach of every inquirer; not only by rendering the 
* Mrs. Somerville, from the extended views of science which she has exhibited, may, 
perhaps, be called the scientific woman of her age. 
+ Except the Mineralogical Journal of Bruce, which ceased after the appearance of 
a few numbers. 
Adanson—Richard—Mirbel—Humboldt—Females who have interested themselves 
in the study of Botany—De Candolle—Silliman—Eaton. 
20* 
