OF PLANTS. 20^ 



delicate and brittle, beyond any other substance. It can- 

 not be touched without being broken. Yet, in beans, peas, 

 grass-seeds, grain, fruits, it is so fenced on all sides, so 

 shut up and protected, that, whilst the seed itself is rudely 

 handled, tossed into sacks, shovelled into heaps, the min- 

 iature plant, the sacred particle, remains unhurt. It is 

 wonderful also, how long many kinds of seeds, by the help 

 of their integuments, and perhaps of their oils, stand out 

 against decay. A grain of mustard seed has been known 

 to lie in the earth for a hundred years ; and, as soon as it 

 had acquired a favourable situation, to shoot as vigorously 

 as if just gathered from the plant. Then, as to the second 

 point, the temporary support of the future plant, the matter 

 stands thus. In grain, and pulse, and kernels, and pippins, 

 the germ composes a very small part of the seed. The 

 rest consists of a nutritious substance, from which the 

 sprout draws its aliment for some considerable time after 

 it is put forth : viz. until the fibres, shot out from the other 

 end of the seed, are able to imbibe juices from the earth, 

 in a sufficient quantity for its demand. It is owing to this 

 constitution, that we see seeds sprout, and the sprouts, 

 make a considerable progress without any earth at all. It 

 is an economy also, in which we remark a close analogy 

 between the seeds of plants, and the eggs of animals. The 

 same point is provided for, in the same manner, in both. 

 In the egg, the residence of the living principle, the cica- 

 trix, forms a very minute part of the contents. The white, 

 and the white only, is expended in the formation of the 

 chicken. The yolk, very little altered or diminished, is 

 wrapped up in the abdomen of the young bird, when it 

 quits the shell ; and serves for its nourishment, till it has 

 learnt to pick its own food. This perfectly resembles the 

 first nutrition of a plant. In the plant, as well as in the 

 animal, the structure has every character of contrivance 

 belonging to it ; in both it breaks the transition from pre- 

 pared to unprepared aliment ; in both it is prospective and 

 compensatory. In animals which suck, this intermediate 

 nourishment is supplied by a different source. 



In all subjects the most common observations are the 

 best, when it is iheir truth and strength which have made 

 them common. There are, of this sort, two concerning 

 plants, which it falls within our plan to notice. The Jirst 

 relates to, what has already been touched upon, their ger- 

 mination. When a grain of corn is cast into the ground, 

 this is the change which takes place. From one end of 



