

302 VEGETABLE ORGANOGRAPHY. 



quently a compound, being analogous to the Polypes or 

 Botryllse in the animal kingdom. 



This formation of new individuals, naturally grafted 

 upon that which gives birth to them, is not limited ; and 

 in this sense it is true to say, that if a tree be considered 

 as a single individual, its duration is infinite, and that it 

 only dies by accident. This proposition, which might 

 appear strange without reflection, is not in reality more 

 singular than if it were said that an aggregation of 

 animals which multiply without cessation, could not last 

 for an infinite period. 



CHAPTER II. 



OF VEGETABLE SYMMETRY. 



When the kingdom of inanimate nature began to be 

 studied, there were only seen, as it were, irregularities, in- 

 termixed, however, here and there with more or less 

 evident symptoms of a regular order. How was it with 

 regard to astronomy ? The indications of a regular 

 order were evident ; but anomalies apparently inexplic- 

 able, such, for example, as the retrogradations of stars, 

 made persons believe that the laws would never be dis- 

 covered. These laws have been discovered, and the 

 apparent irregularities have become the most beautiful 

 confirmations. 



How was it with respect to mineralogy ? The irre- 

 gularities were so numerous, and the cases of regular 



