25^ THE PHILOSOPHY 



bles were either male, female, or hermaphrodite ; and that 

 fexual commerce was equally neceflary for the fecundation 

 of the vegetable as of the animal tribes. 



This analogy was plaufible, and feemed to beftow a fplen- 

 did uniformity on the conduct of Nature. But experiment, 

 the only teft of natural truths, has totally annihilated this 

 beautiful fabrick. The numberlefs fpecies of vine-fretters, 

 of polypi, of millepedes, and of infufion animalcules, nmlti- 

 ph^, without having recourfe to the common laws of gener- 

 ation. Here, then, the analogy ftops ; and, inftead of bring- 

 ing aid to the fexualift, operates powerfully againfi: his fav- 

 ourite hypothefis. If many fpecies of animals are deftitute 

 of all the endearments of love, what fliould induce us to 

 fancy that the oak or the mufliroom enjoy thefe diftin- 

 guifhed privileges ? 



The analogy, bciides, is frequently contradicted in the or- 

 dinary oeconomy of vegetables. It is univerfally allowed, 

 for example, that, even in oviparous animals, the eggs can 

 bnly be impregnated while they are in a gelatinous or mere 

 embryo ftate. When farther advanced, their membranes, 

 or fhells, acquire a confiftence fufficient to refift the male- 

 inflaence. But, among the vegetable tribes, every circum- 

 ilance is reverfed. In moft hermaphrodite plants, (I mufh 

 fpeak in the language of the fyftem), the feeds are not only 

 not in a gelatinous ftate, but have acquired confiderable bulk 

 and folldity, long before the pollen, or fuppofed fecundat- 

 ing dufi:, is thrown out of its capfules. 



The fame remark is applicable to dioicous plants, or fuch 

 as are barren and feed-bearing in different individuals. 

 What conclufion is here to be drawn ? Analogy fails ; and 

 facfts contradict the analogy. The pollen of moft plants 

 flieds after the feeds of their refpedtive fpecies are far ad- 

 vanced in fize and confiftence. If this pollen had the power 

 of fecundating, it could feldom impregnate plants of its own 



