1025. In comparing the natural system of De Candolle with the artificial one of Linnï¾µus, it will be found that there are considerable defects in both. The Linnï¾µan system is most simple, but the natural system is the most philosophical, and unquestionably displays a higher degree of intellectual culture, as it is based on the principles of vegetable physiology, of which the older botanists knew very little. Thus, the Linnï¾µan system belongs rather to the infancy of the science of botany, and the natural system to its more advanced state. By the artificial system of Linnï¾µus, indeed, no great difficulty exists in determining the number of stamens or styles possessed by a given plant, or the nature of their combination, and from the knowledge so obtained, in referring them to their class and order in the Linnï¾µan system. But when this step has been gained, what more has been acquired than the bare knowledge that the plant in question possesses a certain number of stamens and styles? No possible notion can be formed of the relation it bears to other plants of the same nature, of the qualities it probably possesses, or of the structure of those parts not under examination-the fruit, for example; and, finally, if it were wished to convey an idea of the plant to a stranger, no means would be in the possession of the Linnï¾µan botanist of doing so, except by stating that the plant belonged to Pentandria Monogynia for example, which would inform the student that the plant had five stamens and one style, but nothing more. But what would be the condition of the student of the natural affinities of plants in a similar ease? It is true he would be obliged to consult more characters than the two uninfluential ones of Linnï¾µus: it would be necessary to ascertain if his subject was Vascular or Cellular; if Vascular, whether it was Monocotyledonous or Dicotyledonous; if Dicotyledonous, whether the leaves were opposite or alternate, stipulate or exstipulate, whether the flowers were monopetalous, polypetalous, or apetalous, the nature and station of the stamens, the condition of the ovarium, and so on. But when he has ascertained thus much, only let it be remembered, for a moment, how much he has gained indirectly as well as directly. Perhaps he has discovered that his plant belongs to Rubiaccï¾µ; he will then have learned that all vegetables with opposite entire stipulate leaves, and a monopetalous superior corolla, are also Rubiaceous; and if any plant of the same order were afterwards submitted to him for examination, he would recognise its affinities, and remember that it was Rubiaceous; and, being aware of that fact, he would be able safely to infer that its calyx and corolla would be of a particular nature; that if the roots afforded any colour for dyeing, it would be red; that the medicinal properties of the bark, if any, would be tonic, astringent, and febrifugal; and that its seeds would be of the same nature as those of coffee; and, finally, its geographical position would be tolerably certain to him.
