164 THE SURVIVAL OP THE UNLIKE. [vi. 



in 1811, presented an elaborate chart of the development 

 of the orange tribe, "made according to the principles of 

 the new theory of the reproduction of plants;" and at 

 this time Thomas Andrew Knight had made some of his 

 boldest statements, in reality anticipating some of the 

 generalizations of Darwin. I am particular to call 

 attention to this line of facts, because 1 am convinced 

 that, neither in presenting the history of evolution nor 

 in elucidating contemporaneous discussions, have most 

 modern philosophical writers given adequate attention to 

 horticultural literature and practice. The very fact that 

 garden -plants are so modified and mixed that nearly 

 every botanist avoids the systematic study of them, is 

 proof enough that they afford the very materials in 

 which to study the transformation of species. 



This great movement or body of thought, originating 

 in contemplation of natural or organic science, has now 

 extended itself to every field of human thought and 

 industry; and every teacher or investigator, even though 

 he opposes the doctrine of the evolution of organic forms, 

 now approaches his subject from the standpoint of its 

 origin and its relation to all cognate questions. The 

 present conditions of nature and, as well, of human in- 

 stitutions, are seen to have been the product of a grad- 

 ual growth or evolution, and it is apparent that they 

 must continue to change and develop for all time. The 

 conception of the uniformity of the unfolding of this 

 great law of growth in everything of which we have 

 cognizance, has established a new philosophy, of which 

 the core is monism, or the essential oneness of all 

 things. The discussion of evolution, therefore, should 

 no longer be confined to naturalists, for inasmuch as 

 it concerns every enlightened person, its various theories 



