

GROWTH OF SEEDS, }Qj 



ance of it, in many trees. This also in many grasses has a Double pith, 

 very particular appearance. I once found in the spring 

 four yards of the poa trivialis with a root now and then, the Poa trifialis. 

 whole dead ; but on farther examining the plant, the end 

 farthest removed from the root was beginning to shoot. On 

 subjecting it to the solar microscope, I found the nerve of 

 life had run in one diminutive string of vessels finer than a 

 hair, of a bright green, and defended from the inclemency 

 of the weather by the deadened part. As soon as the mild- 

 ness of the season permitted, it shot forth ; the rest of the 

 parts were added by degrees, and the decayed fell off. 



I have many curious specimens of stems in which the Vessels of life 

 vessels of life have been turned out of their natural situa- the^iiatural 

 tion : but it requires so many drawings to give a perfect situation. 

 idea of them, that of course such a work as yours could 

 not admit them. I once traced these vessels from the stem 

 to the apple, and thence to the line in the seed in one string; 

 but this is extremely difficult to be done* 



I shall now conclude with noticing two extraordinary Proofs of voli- 

 proofs of volition in some plants difficult to be accounted tion in P lant6, 

 for by mechanical force only. I divided a bean into two 

 pieces, and planted that half in which the young plant is 

 found. In five days the stem had forced itself out at the 

 usual place, but the root had taken a shorter road, and 

 come out at the truncated part as more immediate to the 

 earth. What mechanical power could occasion this differ- 

 ence ? I took a bean in health, that had just quitted the 

 seed, and cut off the root. The nourishing vessels had 

 been dried up a day or two. I wrapped the truncated part 

 in paper, fearing that it would throw out hairs to nourish 

 itself, and then replaced it in the ground. How great was 

 my astonishment to find, not only that the bean lived, but 

 that the nourishing vessels had reassumed their office of sup- 

 porting the plant ! that the bean, which had been perfectly 

 dry, was now as moist as in its earliest state, and continued 

 to support the plant till the root had again grown, and Nourishing 

 forced itself through the paper! I have ever been an ad- "^ssels regain 

 vocate for mechanical power, but can scarce reconcile these 

 two instances to such a cause. 



The various names given to the infant plant and its dif- 

 ferent 



