the universally received system of Linnæus. How are the classes Icosandria and Polyandria to be distinguished from each other?

I have just said, that in the plants of the Icosandria, the stamens, whatever may be their number, are inserted into the calyx, or into the sides of the petals. But in the plants of the class Polyandria, the stamens are inserted into the receptaculum, or receptacle, of the flower. This is a nice and very interesting character in the discrimination of these two classes. We shall afterwards see how important, and how necessary to be attended to, it is in our endeavours to investigate the properties of Icosandrous and Polyandrous plants.

"There is still another character by which the class Icosandria may be distinguished from Polyandria. The plants of Icosandria have a concave calyx, or flower-cup, which is composed of one leaf, to the inner side of which the petals are fastened by their ungues or claws. 'To confound this class with Polyandria is abominable.* See Polyandria.

"The class Icosandria is subdivided into five orders, viz. Monogynia, Digynia, Trigynia, Pentagynia, and Polygynia.' "The thirteenth class is denominated Polyandria. This class embraces those hermaphrodite vegetables which are furnished with a number of stamens, that are inserted into the receptacle of the flower. I have already observed, that it is by this circumstance, though it is not expressed in the name of the class, that the Polyandrous vegetables are distinguished from those of the class Icosandria.

"With respect to the number of the stamens of this class, it is said by Linnæus, that they are generally from twenty to a thousand. It is true, that many of the plants of the class Polyandria are furnished with a very great number of stamens, får above twenty; such as Poppy, Capparis, Cistus, Ranunculus, and others. But in the class Icosandria there are not a few genera which are as abundantly supplied with these sexual organs, such as Cactus, Eugenia, Rosa, and others. By attending, however, to the very different manner of insertion of the many-stamened plants of these two classes, we shall have no difficulty in referring them to their proper classes.

"Professor Gmelin, in his edition of the Systema Nature, has united the two classes Icosandria and Polyandria into one, which retains the name of Polyandria! I cannot but consider

* "Professor Martyn.
"From Heλus, many.

this as a very injudicious alteration; and I am happy to unite in sentiment, on this subject, with a number of able botanists.* The classes Icosandria and Polyandria should be kept apart, and not merely in subordinate divisions, but in the higher associations, or classes. Nature is remarkably regular and constant in the place of insertion of the stamens. Besides, by uniting, or rather confounding, the two classes in question, we render the sexual system much more artificial than it really was, when it came from the hands of its Great Architect: we, thus, deprive it of one of its charms, its occasional approach to a Natural System. For although the system of Linnæus is professedly artificial, it has, certainly, some claim to the character of a natural assemblage of vegetables; and I cannot help thinking, that in proportion as it is rendered more artificial it will lose a part of its value.

"It has already been observed, that the class Icosandria contains a great number of esculent and innocent vegetables. We shall soon see, on the other hand, that the class Polyandria abounds in poisonous or active vegetables. In this respect the two assemblages are very different from each other, and this circumstance should have had some weight with rash innovators, before they made the disposition to which I have objected. In fact, the mode of insertion of the stamens in the class Icosandria is a feature of great importance. Even in other classes, a like mode of insertion sometimes gives an indication of the wholesome properties of the vegetable. This is the case with the genus Ribes, comprehending the different kinds of Currants, Gooseberries, &c. which are some of the most innocent fruits in the class Pentandria.†

"Whilst, however, I object to the melting down of the two classes Icosandria and Polyandria into one class, I confess, again, that I should have no objection to see the last of these classes, in some measure, blended with the class Dodecandria : that is, I think it would be well to introduce all the true Dodecandrous plants, having more than ten stamens, into Polyandria. This would, certainly, facilitate the labour of the student. For after being told that the Dodecandrous plants have from twelve to nineteen stamens inclusive, with what propriety do we include in the class Polyandria a number of genera, in which no botanist, perhaps, has ever observed as many as nineteen of

* "Professor Martyn, Dr. J. E. Smith, Dr. Darwin, Professor Willde. and others.

now,

"The stamens of Ribes are inserted into the calyx.

the male sexual organs; in which, at least, the number nineteen is exceedingly rare? In Podophyllum, Sanguinaria, and some other genera, we rarely observe more than fifteen or sixteen stamens.*

"The class Polyandria is subdivided into seven orders, viz. Monogynia, Digynia, Trigynia, Tetragynia, Pentagynia, Hexagynia, and Polygynia.'

We finish our extracts by copying what Professor B. says of the classific character of Monoecia, or the twenty-first great division of the sexual system, page 137. Our readers will recollect, that herein are placed those vegetables in which the male and female blossoms, or, in other words, their styles and stamens, are not contained in the same empalement, but grow at some distance from each other, though upon the same plant, as in maize, cucumbers, and melons.

"The vegetables of the class Monoecia are arranged by Linnæus and other writers under very different natural orders or families. Chara and Zannichellia belong to the Linnæan order, Inundatæ, formerly mentioned.+ Anguria, Trichosanthes, Momordica, Cucumis, Cucurbita, Sicyos, Bryonia, together with Passiflora of the preceding class, are referred to the thirtyfourth Linnæan order, Cucurbitace. M. De Jussieu's order, of the same name, comprehends these and other genera. Betula, Fagus, Quercus, Juglans, Corylus, Carpinus, and Platanus, belong to the fifteenth natural order, Amentaceæ. Pinus, Cupressus, Thuja, &c. are referred to the fifty-first natural order, Coniferæ. The orders Amentacea and Coniferæ, in the method of Jussieu, embrace these genera. Zea, Tripsacum, Coix, Olyra, Zizania, and Pharus, are grasses, and belong to the order Gramina. Carex, Sparganium, and Typha, are of the third natural order, Calamariæ, which are considerably allied to the Grasses.

"The United States contain a considerable number of the genera of this class. The following may be mentioned, viz. Chara, Lemna, Zea, Tripsacum, Carex, Sparganium, Typha,

"In some of the earlier editions of the Genera Plantarum, several genera which were afterwards introduced into Dodecandria, had actually a place in Polyandria. I here mention the names of these genera, viz. Bocconia, Cratava, Euphorbia, Peganum, Portulaca, Triumfetta, Heliocarpus, and Reseda. See Genera Plantarum, &c. Editio secunda. Lugduni Batavorum: 1742. See Part I. p. 68. Note.

+ "See p. 36.

"See Part I. p. 115–117. "See p. 12; and Part I. p. "From Calamus, a reed.

120-122.

Urtica, Morus, Betula, Zanthium, Iva, Amaranthus, Zizania, Pharus, Sagittaria, Fagus, Quercus, Juglans, Corylus, Carpinus, Platanus, Liquid-ambar, Pinus, Cupressus, Thuja, Acalypha, Ricinus, Stillingia, Momordica, Curcubita, Sicyos and Bryonia. All these are, unquestionably, indigenous genera within the limits of the United States, unless, perhaps, the two genera Zea and Cucurbita. The well-known Indian-corn (Zea Mays) was only found in a cultivated state; and the same remark applies to the different species of Cucurbita, such as the Cu. lagenaria, or Calabash, C. Pepo, or Pompion, and others.

"The American plants of this class deserve more attention than has hitherto been bestowed upon them. The Oaks of this country have, indeed, been lately examined by Mr. Michaux, in a work which reflects honour upon that author. He has, however, omitted several of the American species of this genus. The genus Juglans deserves as much attention. It will, I think, be necessary to divide this genus into two distinct genera. The Chesnut of the United States is a species essentially distinct from that of the old world. I call it Castanea Americana; for I am persuaded that the Chesnut and the Beech ought not be referred to the same genus. The Chinquepin of the United States (Castanea Chinquepin, mihi) is not a Fagus, but a Castanea. The Beech of North-America is now acknowledged to be distinct from that of the old world. It is the Fagus ferruginea of L'Heritier. The American species of Birch and Alder cannot, with any propriety, be referred to the same genus. They belong to two distinct genera, viz. Betula and Alnus."

The Appendix to this volume contains a synopsis of the several systems that have been invented by botanists, for the arrangement of vegetables, and for the introduction of method into this department of natural history. The plans of Casalpinus, Morison, Hermann, Ray, the Knauts, Boerhaave, Camellus, Rivinus, Tournefort, Ludwig, Pontedera, Magnolius, Linnæus, and Thunberg, are successively displayed; together with an explanation of the Calycine method. These tables will be considered by every person who has advanced far enough to comprehend them, as essays of ingenuity and talent, containing curious materials for an history of the human mind; but young students ought not to bewilder themselves with them. They may attend to them after having made themselves well acquainted with the Linnæan system.

Upon the whole, when we consider the learning and practical researches of the author, we consider his work as a substan

tial addition to the number of valuable publications. It is calculated to render easy and familiar one of the most charming departments of natural knowledge; and, for this purpose, we hope it will be consulted, not only by the gentlemen who devote themselves to professions, but by others of liberal minds and easy fortunes. And we would fain indulge the expectation, that those individuals of the fair sex, who are studious of intellectual excellence and accomplishments, will profit by the labours of Dr. Barton.

ART. II. A Treatise on Practical Farming; embracing particularly the following Subjects; viz. the Use of Plaster of Paris, with Directions for using it; and general Observations on the Use of other Manures: On deep Ploughing, thick sowing of Grain, Method of preventing FruitTrees from decaying, and Farming in general. By John A. Binns. of Loudon County, Virginia, Farmer. 8vo. pp. 71. Frederick-Town, Maryland. J. B. Colvin. 1803.

ARMER BINNS, in this publication, has presented to the

public a variety of his experiments in agriculture, particularly those which he made with the intention of convincing. himself of the usefulness of gypsum, and afterwards of introducing it among his neighbours. Though there is little in the work which is new to a man who early listened to the advice of Mr. Wynkoop about it, yet it may be fairly allowed, that the author has set a good example, and given very seasonable precepts to the people among whom he lives. He has laboured zealously, and we hope successfully, to improve the system of husbandry in Virginia, by introducing gypsum into fashion among the cultivators of land. The wonders wrought by this substance, when employed for manure, have brought it into general use in the middle States, except in their maritime parts, where the saline quality of the atmosphere appears to decompose it, or, in some other way, to deaden its activity. The increasing demand for it has, for several years, been the cause of transporting to our sea-ports, vast quantities of it from the Bay of Fundy. It must be regretted that the United States have not hitherto been discovered to abound in this valuable article. There have been no strata as yet found, which furnish any quantity worth the mentioning. Hence, it is probable, the great supplies will continue to be brought from Nova-Scotia.