SECT. II. DISCOVERIES OF THE MODERNS. 305 



the unravelling of the whole of the mystery over- 

 hanging the subject, because it is equally applicable 

 to all sorts of vegetables whatever, whether pro- 

 ducing the organs in question in separate flowers 

 and on separate plants, as in the case of the Palm- 

 tree ; or in separate flowers and on the same plant, 

 as in the case of the Hazel-nut-tree ; or lastly, 

 in the same flower, as in the case of the Lily, 

 which is by far the most general mode of vegetable 

 sexuality. 



The opinion of Grew was adopted also by Ray, Adopted 

 at first with some appearances of doubt, but finally y ay ' 

 without any sort of reservation, as being founded 

 on evidence which appeared to him sufficiently 

 convincing, and which he was even induced to 

 illustrate.* 



Hitherto the doctrine of the sexuality of vege- 

 tables had been supported chiefly upon the ground 

 of its probability as arising from careful observation, 

 or upon that of the necessity of the case, and had 

 not yet been confirmed by the evidence of actual 

 experiment: but this confirmation which was so 

 devoutly to be wished, and without which all 

 other arguments must have remained insufficient, 

 was at length also happily undertaken. The first 

 example of experiment recorded on this subject is 

 that of Camerarius, Professor of Botany at Tubingen, 

 who having adopted the opinions of Grew and Ray, 

 though without perhaps regarding their arguments rius > 

 * Sylloge Stirpium Europsearum Pragf. 1694. 



VOL. II. X 



