BOTANY. 



forms. The first doctrine is purefy^ speculative, 

 able from its very nature of proof \ &acfring nothing, 

 and suggesting nothing, it is the d^sjiair^m^estigajtqrs 

 and inquiring minds. The Other; 'whether C7dd V&ofly/ 

 or in part only, is gaining adherents rapidly, because 

 most of the phenomena of plant life may be explained 

 by it ; because it has taught much that is indisputably 

 proved ; because it has suggested a multitude of pro- 

 lific inquiries, and because it has directed many in- 

 vestigators to the discovery of new facts in all depart- 

 ments of Botany. It regards as proved i. That 

 the descendants of every plant departs (varies) more 

 or less in character from its parents. 2. That of these 

 variations some are better fitted than others, and 

 even sometimes than their parent was, to survive 

 in the area the plant inhabits. 3. That the con- 

 ditions of the area are, like the individuals, vari- 

 able. 4. That the number of deaths previous to 

 maturity amongst the descendants is enormously 

 greater than that of survivors, and that these deaths 

 are due to the conditions of the area not having- 

 suited them. 5. That the descendants (variations) 

 best fitted to thrive under the conditions of the area 

 will be the survivors. 6. That these variations will 

 hence ultimately in certain places supplant the parent 

 form. 7. That the difference between a species and 

 a variety being one of degree only, the variations ac- 

 cumulated through successive generations will become 

 specific, and these again by a like process generic, 

 and so on. 



154. The chief apparent difficulty in accepting this 

 doctrine is to assign sufficient cause for the apparent 

 fixity of a species for even a limited period. This 



