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CHAPTER XX.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Rule_Segment_-_Flare_Centre_-_140px.svg/140px-Rule_Segment_-_Flare_Centre_-_140px.svg.png)
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