UEVIEW, 



181 



golum Pyrenaicum. Flowers in 

 June and July, in common mould. 

 Little Wood-sorrel. Oralis acetosel- 

 la. Flowers in April and May, in 

 common mould. 



Violet-coloured Wood-sorrel. Oxalis 

 violacea. Flowers in May and June, 

 in sandy peat." 



SCIENCE OF BOTANY. 



Conlinutd jrom page 166. 



" In most plants which do not drop their seeds around themselves, the 

 wind is the leading agent in dispersing the seeds, being often assisted by the 

 great lightness of the seed, by some appendage, such as wings or feathers 

 (as in willow-herb, in dandelion, and in thistle, and the rest of the syngene- 

 sious tribe, which aid the wind in wafting the seed to a distance, or by the 

 pericarp dehiscing at the upper part and sides, so that the seeds do not fall 

 out, but are shaken or blown out by the wind. In other cases as in the 

 broom (Cyslisus,) the balsam, (Impaliens,) the Oxalis, there is a mechanical 

 contrivance in the pericarp or seed which has the effect of a spring, in pro- 

 jecting the seed, when ripe, a distance from the parent plant. 



'• The use of these contrivances for dispersing seeds is obvious. They 

 would choke each other in germinating close together, if they simply fell .to 

 the ground, and be thus lost or wasted. When the parent plant remains, 

 (as in trees), they would be superfluous at the spot where there is already a 

 plant of the same kind ; but being dispersed, the seeds are carried abroad 

 and get room to germinate — They grow up and fertilize other places, 

 and thus perpetuate the species, and increase the useful products which the 

 plant may yield to the animal creation. 



" Animals are frequently the means of the dispersion of seeds. Rivers 

 and even seas also aid in spreading seeds. 



" New plants arise from three sources, 1st. from seeds, which when pla- 

 ced in a fit situation, become new plants, of the same species as that which 

 produced them, though frequently of a different variety. Plants are divided 

 into Genera, Species, and Varitties.Each genus includes manv species, and, 

 each species many varieties. The varieties of any species differ in parti- 

 culars which are not deemed of much importance, such as colour, size, #c. 

 and a seed always produces a plant of the same genus and species as that of 

 the parent, but frequently of a different variety. The commencement of the 

 growth of the seed is called germination. 2nd, From buds, which are also 

 capable of producing new plants. In this case, it is always the same variety 

 that is produced. 3d, From slips or branches, which, when treated in a 

 particular manner, are capable of becoming entire and independent plants, 

 when separated from the parent. This is called propagation by slips or 

 layers; and in this case also, we always obtain the same variety. This 

 latter mode might be included along with the second, thus making two prin- 

 cipal sources of vegetation— seeds and buds. 



GERMINATION. 



" A perfectly formed seed may be considered a young plant, the vital 



energies ol which are in a dormant or latent state, but ready to be excited 



i inn win ii the proper stimuli are applied ; and containing a quantity of 



matter in a state to hi' easily formed into proper nutriment, and applied to 



its support before it is able to provide for itself. 



" Seeds possess a great quantity of carbon. This substance, by its anti- 

 patrescent qualities and hardness, prevents the seeds from undergoing pu- 

 Er< In Hon, and thus preserves it for u great length of time. All that is Dei I S- 

 •arj foi preserving seeds is, U> prevent g< nuiuatiou and putrefaction. For 



