Mycological System

until it cannot proceed further in this direction. (See the Observation after the first class of Fungi). Then a new order of things is born; a new series ascends from the elements themselves, briefly repeating the preceding, etc. — A truly constructed system, however, proposes the connection of all things.

I easily see that these premises, which are most necessary for the knowledge of our System, have been exposed lightly and do not satisfy the wishes of higher science. For these, the writings of the celebrated Oken should be consulted.

All diversities, which we call species, and even genera, orders, etc., arise from the mutual relation of elements, as I think, in almost infinite modifications. These follow perpetual rules. Recent chemistry has demonstrated the conjunction of elements in definite proportions, and it seems to us that the constancy of species is derived solely from these; without these, species would also flow together from all sides. If the vital force had not rendered each organism integral and discrete in itself, and (it did not abolish) the laws subordinating inorganic nature, no difference would exist between species and chemical conjunctions. It is otherwise in the remaining sections, which do not exist strictly circumscribed in nature. All classes, orders, etc., are acutely limited by nature against its will. Nature, however, everywhere variable, yet always tends to exhibit the same thing, that is, the same idea, with changes only in those things which necessarily depend on further reason.