48 THE PHILOSOPHY 



reproducing new individuals. In this refpecV, trees and 

 fhrubs may be conlidered as viviparous plants ; becaule they 

 produce out of their own bodies an organ, which, though dif- 

 fering in every view from a {eed, is brought forth alive, and, 

 when properly cherifiied, is converted into a being perfedlly 

 fimilar to the parent, and capable of continuing its fpecies. 

 The embryo of a bud commences its exiftence under the 

 bark. Here it remains, for fome time, inclofed in membra- 

 nous coverings, and attached to the bark by minute fibres, 

 which convey to it a nourillmient fuited to its condition. 

 When arrived at a certain fize and conliflence, it pierces the 

 bark, and fhoots out into the open air. If allowed to re- 

 main on the parent, it foon burfts through its membranes, 

 and, in tim.e, gives rife to a new branch : But, when detach- 

 ed from the parent, and placed in proper circumftances, it 

 becomes a new individual of the fame fpecies. 



Bulbous rooted plants furnifii a ftill ftronger analogy be- 

 tween the increafe of viviparous animals and that of vegeta- 

 bles. In the end of autumn, if the coats of any bulbous 

 root be carefully diffedted, the entire plant in minature will 

 appear in the centre of the root. In fpring, this fmail 

 plant, like a foetus inclofed in the uterus, pierces the coats of 

 which the root coniifts, and gradually grows till it flowers, 

 ripens its feeds, and dies at the approach of winter, when a 

 new plant is again formed in the old root. Here we have 

 an example of the multiplication of plants iimilar to that of 

 the puceron j but the order of time is reverfed. The puce- 

 ron is viviparous in fummer, and oviparous In autumn ; but 

 bulbous-rooted plants may be confidered as oviparous In 

 fummer, and viviparous in autumn. 



The fame analogy is to be traced in thofc roots which 

 have what are called eyes, like the potatoe. Thefe eyes arc 

 all plants In minature, which live in that flate during the 

 winter, and, when committed to the foil, come to maturity 

 in fummer. 



