466 OEGANOLOGY. 



hitherto been made, without reference to these essential distinctions, are 

 useless, and must be followed out anew if they are to serve for the ex- 

 tension of our knowledge of vegetable life. 



In germination, the above distinctions are definitely marked ; it yet 

 remains for us to follow this out more accurately by the investigation of 

 the previous chemical changes in the germination of Phanerogamia. I 

 believe that the simple softening and expansion of the cells continues as 

 a first stage until the time comes when the root projects itself into the 

 earth ; then new cells are formed, probably first at the apex of the root, 

 and then in the plumule. In the germination of Cryptogamia, where 

 the development of the reproductive cells continues uninterruptedly, 

 without giving any time for the repose of vegetation, no such period- 

 icity is observed. 



The most important point which here presents itself is the mode of 

 increase of the cells, and the proper growth of the plant. Investigations 

 on this subject are especially wanted. I was the first who (in Miiller's 

 Archiv, 1838) sought to investigate this matter, and thereby to establish 

 a foundation for further inquiries, the necessity for which had scarcely, 

 up to that time, been foreseen. At the same time appeared Schwann's 

 treatise, with the same object, on animals. Immediately there arose a 

 dispute, not upon the correctness of the facts given, but upon the im- 

 portance, or not, of such a foundation for the study of physiology and his- 

 tology : others desired to wear the laurels which Schwann had gathered. 

 Soon, however, a new and strikingly active life, proceeding from the 

 foundation laid by the discoveries of Schwann, appeared in physiology ; 

 and thus first my name was mentioned in friendly union with his. 



This is not the place to enumerate the splendid results which were 

 thus obtained by both physiologists and botanists. Almost five years 

 have gone by since the appearance of my work, and not a single bota- 

 nist has found it worth the trouble to repeat my investigations, conducted 

 with so much care and labour, in order either to confirm or to confute 

 them.* This circumstance seems to me to justify some of the harsh 

 observations that I have made upon the state of botanical science, since 

 it shows beyond dispute that we have failed not so much because of the 

 difficulty of obtaining results as from the want of the scientific spirit 

 which would seek after them. There are honourable exceptions ; but 

 with the generality of botanists, even down to our own times, the ne- 

 cessary possession of a few dried fragments of plants, and a superficial 

 physiology acquired by peeping through a microscope, is called science ; 

 to-day this, to-morrow the contrary, the day after the same as the first ; 

 and all this because they make no fundamental or comprehensive re- 

 searches, and are without the conditions of a scientific induction : and at 

 the present day this is called seeking for the truth ! God save the mark ! 

 In the past year, however, a preparation has been laid for a more fertile 

 future, chiefly by young, vigorous spirits, who, having pursued zoological 

 studies on true principles, have introduced the same scientific method of 

 investigation into their botanical researches. The time is evidently not 

 far distant when no botanist will presume to dictate on the science as 

 long as he has not made fundamental investigations upon cell-deve- 

 lopment. 



* An exception must be made in this country, at least, in favour of my friend and 

 assistant in the translation of this work, Mr. Arthur Henfrey, who has repeated with 

 much care the researches of the gifted author, although he has not been able to confirm 

 all his views and observations. TRANS. 



