232 CONTRIBUTIONS TO 



so far as it lias become an integral part of a plant. It is, 

 however, easy to perceive that the vital process of the indi- 

 vidual cells must form the very first, absolutely indispensable 

 fundamental basis, both as regards vegetable physiology and 

 comparative plrysiology in general; and, therefore, in the very 

 first instance, this question especially presents itself: how does 

 this peculiar little organism, the cell, originate ? 



The great importance of the subject is the only excuse I 

 can adduce for venturing at the present moment to publish the 

 following remarks, feeling as I do only too well convinced 

 that more extended researches can alone impart to them their 

 proper scientific value. Perhaps, however, I may succeed by 

 these remarks in drawing attention to this very important 

 subject. 



Since no real advance in science results from the attempt 

 to explain natural phenomena hypothetically, and least of all, 

 where all the conditions for the erection of a tenable hypo- 

 thesis, namely, guiding facts, are wanting, I may omit all 

 historical introduction ; for, so far as I am acquainted, no 

 direct observations exist at present upon the development of 

 the cells of plants. Sprenger's pretended primitive cells have 

 long since been shown to be solid granules of amylum. To 

 enter upon Raspail's work appears to me incompatible with 

 the dignity of science. Whoever feels any desire to do so, 

 may refer to the work itself. 



The only work connected with this subject, the highly dis- 

 tinguished one by Mirbel, I shall have occasion to refer to 

 subsequently, since even he does not make any allusion to the 

 process of cell-formation. It is to be regretted that Meyen, 

 who perhaps has studied vegetable anatomy more comprehen- 

 sively than any one up to the present time, should have con- 

 fined himself almost exclusively to the investigation of deve- 

 loped forms, and not yet have brought the formative process 

 itself in any degree within the sphere of his enquiries. I still 

 have many doubts, the solution of which I had hoped to have 

 found in his Physiology, but hoped in vain. 



It was Robert Brown who, with his comprehensive natural 

 genius, first realized the importance of a phenomenon, which, 

 although observed previously by others, had yet remained 

 totally neglected. He found, in the first instance, in a great 



