VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. 49 



soon after which the ovum becomes detached, and, in a wonder- 

 ful manner, descends the Fallopian tube into the uterus, together 

 with the animalcule, which in time becomes a perfect foetus. 

 But this theory is more plausible than just : for by the conjunc- 

 tion of two animals of different kinds, a species is produced, 

 which we call hybrid, mongrel, or mule, being of a mixed nature 

 between the male and female parent. And it must be allowed 

 that an animal thus formed could not be produced, were the ru- 

 diments of the fetus to derive their origin wholly from the male, 

 agreeably to this hypothesis. All we certainly know of the mys- 

 terious work of generation, is, that all animals require the con- 

 currence of a male and female to produce their kind ; and that 

 these, distinctly and invariably, are found to beget animals of 

 their own species. We know but little of those peculiar charac- 

 ters in the parts that go to make up animated nature, which mark 

 one animal to creep in the dust, and another to glitter upon the 

 throne ! Something more certain may be discovered regarding 

 the origin of vegetable life, to which we shall return. 



That we may make a full inquiry into this subject of the re- 

 production of plants, it will be proper to investigate the situation 

 of their organs of fructification. Now we have proved that the 

 seeds are the eggs of plants ; and it appears wherever the fecundat- 

 ed eggs are, there are we to seek for the organs of generation ; 

 and we shall find tHe fructifying organs of plants where the seeds 

 are produced. But the seeds are produced where the flower 

 and fruit are ; therefore the flower and fruit are the organs 

 of generation. Some have asserted that certain vegetables 

 wanted flowers, and others both flowers and fruit. Tournefort 

 maintained that the algae and mosses had seeds, but no flower ; 

 and that the fungi, and some others, had neither flower nor 

 fruit. Hence some of the moderns have argued against the 

 fructification. But for one to deny flowers and fruit to the 

 most minute vegetables, which he finds in all the larger species 

 that fall under his inspection, is not the part of a fair and ra- 

 tional inquirer. For it is the same as if we should conclude 

 concerning some minute species of insects, that they had neither 

 feet, eyes nor mouth, because we cannot discover them with the 



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