The system of Linnæus rests upon the consideration of the organs of fecundation--organs almost overlooked until then, but whose physiological functions have since been ably demonstrated. He introduced in 1736 a salutary and much-wanted reform into botanical language and nomenclature, defining most rigorously the terms used to express the various modifications and characters of the organs, and reducing the name of each plant to two words, the first designating the genus, the second designating a species of the genus. Before his time, in fact, it was necessary to follow the name of the genus through a whole sentence in order to characterize the species, and in proportion as the number of species increased, the sentences were lengthened until it seemed as if they would never come to an end. It was like the confusion which would arise in society if, in place of using the baptismal name and surname, we were to suppress the baptismal name, and substitute for it an enumeration of many qualities distinctive of the individual; as if, for example, in place of saying Pierre Durand or Louis Durand, we said Durand the great sportsman, or any other phraseology applicable to the qualities of the individual. Nevertheless the Linnæan or binary nomenclature is one of the great titles to that glory which has been awarded to its immortal author. In the scheme of the Linnæan system it has been found possible to describe all plants discovered since his time--an irrefragable proof of the great merits of this artificial classification of species. This classification of plants has received the name of the artificial system, because it groups the species according to a small number and not from the whole of their characteristics; in short, it rather permits one class to be distinguished from another than makes each known in an intimate manner. It insists much upon their differences, little upon their resemblances. Between species thus compared, only one essential analogy may exist. The rush takes place beside the barberry, because each of these plants has six stamens and only one style. The vine is ranged beside the periwinkle, because they each have five stamens and one style. The carrot is allied to the gooseberry, etc. There may not be between the plants thus compared any natural bond, but only some trace of resemblance in a particular part of the organization, which may be found also in a number of very different plants.