PART FOURTH. 



THE LAWS OF GENERATION. 



CHAPTER I. 



VEGETABLE REPRODUCTION. 



Dignity and Importance of the Function of Reproduction Various Modes 

 of Reproduction in Vegetables Functions of Flowers Processes in 

 Fertilisation Pollen and Germ True Generation Formation of 

 Bulbs Tubers Slips, Buds, and Grafts Spores Loves of the 

 Plants. 



FROM the simplest vegetable to the highest animal we find life 

 displaying its powers, forces, and organisms in the most 

 wonderful and beautiful manner; but there is one power in all 

 living things beyond all others wonderful the power of repro- 

 duction. All life on the earth would soon perish if plants and 

 animals of every kind were not provided with the means of 

 producing similar organisations. A tree may live thousands of 

 years, but it perishes at last. There are vegetables and animals 

 that live but a few hours. The individual dies, but the race 

 survives, because the individual is provided with a wondrous 

 power of producing other individuals to carry on the life of the 

 race or species. The function of reproduction is therefore of 

 the highest importance and dignity. It is the work of creation 

 for ever going forward. The production of a plant or animal, 

 its development from a living germ, the gradual formation of 

 all its organs, and its whole life processes are very wonderful ; 

 but the most wonderful thing any plant or animal can do is to 



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