LECT. IX.] HYBERNACULA CAULINAR BULBS. 457 



ferred to, depends on the organization of the germs 

 contained in the buds of these plants approaching 

 to that degree of perfection which is found in bulbs 

 and seeds. It may, however, still be demanded 

 how is this perfect organization accomplished in 

 bulbs ? In seeds, while in the state of ovula, the 

 peculiar stimulus of the pollen may produce a 

 specific action capable of evolving all the parts of 

 that peculiar structure, with "which we find vitality 

 connected; but in bulbs we can scarcely sup- 

 pose that the vital action which completes their or- 

 ganization differs from that by which a gem, or 

 branch bud, is formed ; and yet buds, when sepa- 

 rated from the parent stem, will not live, unless 

 they are either immediately planted, or inserted 

 into another stock of a structure resembling that 

 of the parent. A question thence occurs (admit- 

 ting that all plants which throw off lateral pro- 

 geny as bulbs, propagines, and gongyli, possess 

 sexual organs, and, therefore, are capable of being 

 also propagated in a direct way), namely, can any 

 of the impulse communicated by the sexual func- 

 tions influence the lateral progeny? That such 

 an influence exists is probable, if it be allowable 

 to reason analogically and refer to the animal 

 kingdom; for we find that from the egg of the 

 aphis, which is laid in the autumn, and is the re- 

 sult of the sexual intercourse of males and fe- 

 males, a young insect is produced in the spring ; 

 which after casting its skin once or twice, pro- 



