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CHAPTER XX.
OF THE PECULIAR FUNCTIONS OF THE STAMENS AND PISTILS, WITH THE EXPERIMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS OF LINNÆUS AND OTHERS ON THAT SUBJECT.
The real use of the Stamens of Plants was long a subject of dispute among philosophers, till Linnæus, according to the general opinion at present, explained it beyond a possibility of doubt. Still there are not wanting persons who from time to time start objections, prompted either by a philosophical pursuit of truth, or an ambitious desire of distinguishing themselves in controverting so celebrated a doctrine, as some have written against the circulation of the animal blood. I propose to trace the history of this doctrine, and especially to review the facts and
