

SECT. II. REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. 201 



It was still possible, however, that these natu- Made to 

 ralists might have been mistaken, as Ferns had not 

 yet been propagated by the sowing of their seeds. 

 But the experiment was at last instituted in the 

 year 1789 by Mr. J. Lindsay of Jamaica, as also 

 about the same time by Mr. J. Fox of Norwich. 

 The result was in each case conformable to ex- 

 pectation,, and Ferns were obtained from both 

 sowings.* 



The reality of Fern-seed being thus evinced, the Presumed 

 next object of the cryptogamist was that of the nate^n* 

 discovery of the parts of the antecedent flower, 

 the existence of which was inferred from analogy. 

 But in pursuit of this object it cannot be said that 

 cryptogamists have been hitherto so successful 

 as one could wish. For although Hedwig, that 

 most able and accurate of all cryptogamic investi- 

 gators, has indeed detected the parts of the flower in 

 a variety of genera, or, at least, organs which he 

 presumes to be the constituent parts of the flower ; 

 yet there seems to be still some considerable degree 

 of doubt among botanists with regard to the value 

 of some of his conjectures, and a consequent want 

 of acquiescence in the legitimacy of some of his 

 conclusions. ~{~ 



But where the parts of the flower have not yet Modes of 

 been detected, the botanist can,, at least, direct his Jon/ 

 attention to the mode of fructification, and to the 

 fruit produced. 



* Lin. Trans, vol. ii. f Smith's Introduc. p. 488. 



