362 VEGETABLE LIFE. 



its natural position, it gives indications of motion, it 

 produces other cells, and we have a development of 

 organs which are in no respect the same in form as 

 the original. 3?rom a vesicle floating invisible to 

 the unaided human sense in its womb of fluid, is pro- 

 duced a plant possessing strange powers, or an animal 

 gifted with volition. The idea, that two kinds of 

 polarity light on one side, and gravitation on the 

 other produce the two peculiar developments of roots 

 and branches, can only be regarded as one of those 

 fanciful analogies which prove more imagination than 

 philosophy.* 



The conditions are, however, most curious ; they de- 

 serve very attentive study ; but in examining the pheno- 

 mena, the safest course is to allow the effects as they 

 arise to interpret to us, and not admit the love of hypo- 

 thesis to lead us into bewildering analogies ; or uncertain 

 phenomena to betray us to hasty inferences. It is of this 

 evil that Bacon speaks, in his " Advancement of Learn- 

 ing." He says: 



" The root of this error, as of all others, is this, 

 that men, in their contemplations .of nature, are 

 ^accustomed to make too timely a departure, and too 

 remote a recess from experience and particulars, 

 .-and have yielded and resigned themselves over to 

 the fumes of their own fancies and popular argu- 

 mentations." 



Without venturing, therefore, to speculate on the 

 origin of the primitive cell, or unit of organic life, which 

 involves the problem of the metamorphosis of a rude 



* Dr. Carus, in the memoir already quoted, -says : " J3ut since, 

 in the organization of the earth, light and air, as constituting. a 

 second integrant .part, stand opposed to gravitation, and since 

 the plant bears a, relation, not only to gravitation, but to light also, 

 when its formation is complete it will necessarily 'present a second 

 anatomical system, namely, that of the spiral vessels, which have 

 been -very justly considered, of late, as the organs that perform in 

 ^plants the'functions of nerves." 



