INTRODUCTION. 3 



While these processes of the senior part of the 

 radical plate are developed in the air, and the 

 radicles or fibres in the earth, the next vital prin- 

 ciple of the incipient series becomes every day 

 larger in size, swelling and protruding into form 

 its imbricated envelopement of scales, resembhng 

 a short cone, its apex containing the embryo 

 fructification of the following year. Besides the 

 second of this aggregation of principles, the third, 

 fourth, or even more (according to the vigour of 

 the plant) of the series, are sometimes produced, 

 and which take the name of offsets, which may 

 be separated without injury to the plant. This 

 vital organ always appears as belonging to the 

 largest individual of the train, continuing to 

 produce and throw off progeny ad infinitum. 



This curious organisation of the bulb is, when 

 duly considered, truly astonishing! that a ve- 

 getable body, no bigger than a grain of mustard, 

 should contain a train of distinct germs without 

 number, and, in favourable circumstances, with- 

 out end; and which are always in a gradual 

 train of progress; the first fully developed to 



B 2 



