Philosophical Character of Decandolle. 209 



commonly abortive is made to develope itself, and to arrive at 



maturity. 



" The reality of this occurrence cannot therefore be ques- 

 tioned, but to pronounce in what cases it has actually happen- 

 ed, becomes a question of great intricacy. 



" The first principle on which M. Decandolle proceeds, in 

 order to determine what organs in a particular plant have be- 

 come abortive, or are deficient, is by observing what are caUed 

 the monstrosities to which the species is liable, or its occasional 

 deviations from the accustomed standard. 



" These monstrosities arise in some cases from a return to 

 he primitive type of the species, in consequence of the re- 

 moval, by accident, of those forces which usually modify its 

 natural condition. 



" In the horse-cbesnut, for example, the six embryos rarely 

 ever grow to maturity, because those which first have acquired 

 • vitality abstract nourishment from the rest, and thus cause 

 them to die away. 



" It might happen, however, by some singular accident, that 

 all the six embryos received the principle of life at one and 

 the same instant of time, on which supposition the existence 

 of six mature seeds in the two seed-vessels might occur— a 

 monstrosity which, so far from being a further departure from 

 the natural form, would be in fact a return to it. 



" The second method, by which the same point is deter- 

 mined, consists in examining the general analogy subsisting 

 between the plant and others. If, for instance, all those spe- 

 cies, which bear the nearest resemblance to the one we are 

 examining, should have five stamens, whilst this possesses only 

 four, we might reasonably conclude, knowing the great ten- 

 dency of this organ to become abortive, that one habitually 

 dies away, owing to some cause incident to the nature of the 

 vegetable. 



" The abortions which take place, may occur either from 

 the plant being nom'ished in excess, or defectively. By an ex- 

 cess of nourishment, the growth of the contiguous organs may 

 be so accelerated, that the part itself is prevented growing, 

 or becomes stunted; by defect of nourishment, on the con- 

 trary, the same consequence may directly ensue, and under 



