1 68 Natural Theology. 



that certainty of propagation is of prime importance 

 in the plants already mentioned. 



But we have perhaps too far prolonged this dis- 

 cussion on this provision in plant life, for the produc- 

 tion of food. We readily grant that in the major- 

 ity of cases, the food for animals is produced in a 

 way that seems primarily for the benefit of the plant, 

 as an individual or species. To some it may appear 

 to be prepared solely for the plant. To this, how- 

 ever, we think there are plain exceptions ; and among 

 them we mention again our soft fruits, which are 

 the envelope, or mere accompaniment of the seed. 

 The seeds need a covering, it is true. But why 

 should the covering of the apple-seed give the thou- 

 sand kinds of this delicious fruit, of every tint and 

 flavor, and varied time of ripening? Why do the 

 pear and peach vie with the apple in the diversified 

 forms and flavors they offer? Why does the straw- 

 berry enlarge its receptacle into that most delicious 

 fruit ? Why does the grape bury its seeds in such 

 a luscious pulp, and sometimes form the pulp with- 

 out the seed ? That the perfection and variety of 

 the soft portion of such fruits play any part in the 

 economy of the plant, no one will probably contend. 

 The pulp of the grape represents to man so much 

 food. If it forms without seed, it is the cause of no 

 indirect injury, as the filling of wheat-grains with- 

 out the germ would be, because it never represents 

 new plant life. If the soft fruits have no purpose 

 except to cover the seed, their increase in size, and 

 improvement in flavor, are a mistake. The native 



