EVIDENCE OF DESIGN. 127 
definite number of forms exhibited by different species, 
and arithmetically expressed by the series of fractions, 
(/2e 0/2, °2/5, (3/8; 5/13, 8/21, €tc., according \as the 
formative energy in its spiral course up the developing 
stem lays down at corresponding intervals 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 
or 21 ranks of alternative leaves. 
The position of each blossom is determined beforehand 
by that of the leaves; so that the shape of every flower- 
cluster in a boquet is given by the same simple mathema- 
tical law which arranges the foliage. Every flower has a 
“Numerical Plan.” Although not easy to make out in all 
cases, yet generally it is plain to see that each blossom is 
based upon a particular number, which runs through all 
or most of its parts. And a principal thing which a bo- 
tanist notices when examining a flower is its numerical 
plan. It is upon this that the symimetry of the blossom de- 
pends. Thus the stonecrop and the flax are based upon 
the number five, which is exhibited in all their parts. Some 
flowers of this same stonecrop have their parts in fours, 
and then that number runs throughout; namely, there are 
four sepals, four petals, eight stamens (two sets), and 
four pistils. 
Next let us touch upon the plan which connects the 
plant with the animal world. The wonderful adapta- 
tions of many flowers and insects to each other, as to the 
fertilization of the former, and as to the life of the in- 
dividual insect and the propagation of its kind, are evi- 
dence of design. For example, there are certain species 
of plants that are dependent for their fertilization on cer- 
tain species of moths which live in the flowers, and the 
moths, in turn, are dependent on the plants. They deposit 
their eggs in the ovaries of the flowers where the young 
are hatched and nourished. The moths in some cases carry 
the pollen and place it on the stigmas of the flowers, as 
if guided by intelligence. So marvellous are the provis- 
