REPRODUCTION. 6'Ml 



both of animals and vegetables, the germ is pro- 

 vided with auxiliary coverings of this kind ; the 

 whole together composing what is called a seed, or 

 an ovum ; the former term being usually applied 

 to vegetable, and the latter to animal productions ; 

 and in both cases the organ which originally con- 

 tained them is termed the ovary. 



The formation and evolution of vegetable seeds 

 takes place, not indiscriminately at every point, as 

 we have seen is the case with simple germs, but 

 only in particular parts of the plant. The Filires, 

 or fern tribes, may be taken as examples of this 

 mode of reproduction ; the seeds being formed at 

 the under surface of the leaves, apparently by a 

 simple process of evolution ; and when detached 

 and scattered on the ground being further developed 

 into a plant similar to the parent. The Linnean 

 class of Ciyplogamia includes all the plants coming 

 under this description. In Animals, likewise, it is 

 only in the particular organs termed ovaries, that 

 ova are formed; and these organs are generally 

 divided into compartments ; the wliole being en- 

 closed in a membranous covering, bearing a great 

 resemblance to the seed-capsules of plants. 



The propagation of living beings by means of 

 ova or seeds, is a process of a totally different class 

 from their multiplication by mere slips or buds ; 

 and the products of the former retain less of the 

 peculiar characters of the individual from which 

 they spring, than those of the latter. This is re- 

 markably exemplified in the case of orchard trees, 

 such as apples and pears ; for all the trees which 

 derive their origin from shoots, or grafts, from the 

 same individual, partake of the same properties, 



