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intended to explain in the fullest detail the result of his investigations. 
The following passage contains the essence of his introductory expla- 
nation respecting its plan and purpose :— 
* Let us say it at the outset, we have not in our investigations quit- 
ted for a moment the domain of positive reality. It is not theories, 
but absolute facts, that we have to show. It is not a certain manner 
of looking at things, or a particular opinion that is to be brought in 
question, but facts duly and truly ascertained by means of the ordinary 
process of experience, that we are going to submit, without fear, to the 
circumspection of all friends of science. We have simply to unfold 
that which we have seen, experimentized upon, sought out; that 
which even those who may be most disposed to contradict us would 
have seen and sought out as we have done, or better than we have 
done, if they had made the same researches, with similar materials to 
ours. In fact, it is easy to understand, when there exist between 
plants observed in a living state, and in a condition of perfectly analo- 
gous development, differences which are easily appreciable by any one 
who knows how to look attentively, that to ascertain the existence of 
these differences is to ascertain a material fact of the reality of which 
there cannot be two opinions. To ascertain afterwards that these dif- 
ferences are visible year by year and every year is again to ascertain 
a material fact of the same nature as the preceding. To ascertain 
finally that these are differences presented constantly by different in- 
dividual plants when they are compared together, presented equally 
by other individuals which are descended from these last, that they 
are produced hereditarily and invariably through a succession of gene- 
rations, it is always the investigation of a question of a material fact to 
get to know whether these differences exist or they do not. Sincere 
men may differ in opinion as to the consequences to be deduced 
from the fact, but they cannot, if they take the necessary pains to 
look, doubt as to its reality or non-reality. The species which we 
have to propose are nothing else but vegetable forms which we have 
learnt to distinguish from one another by the comparison of all then 
organs in the living plant; and we have assured ourselves by the most 
certain observations that the differences are hereditary, and cannot be 
attributed to local or accidental causes." 
This is sound sense and sound reasoning, the language of a man 
conscious of sincerity. It places the issue of the innumerable questions 
Li 
