52 ORGANIC EVOLUTION 



forms, such as the oak or the rose, at the other. 

 Similarly we find that, as in the case of the animal 

 kingdom, the highest forms of vegetable life re- 

 produce themselves by single cells, as does man 

 himself. Thus, in accordance with the recapitu- 

 lation theory, the individuals of even the highest 

 vegetable and animal species begin their career 

 as single cells, as did the age-long race from which 

 they are descended. Also we find that in the 

 economy of the higher plants as in that of the 

 higher animals, a great part is played by that 

 vastly important differentiation which we call 

 sex. 



If, now, with a well-founded prepossession in 

 favour of the theory of organic evolution, we study 

 the comparative anatomy of the vegetable kingdom, 

 sve find every fact in favour of the theory. Con- 

 fining ourselves solely to the study of the vegetable 

 forms which people the earth and the sea to-day, 

 we find it possible to arrange them in what, but for 

 the fact of their simultaneous existence, might well 

 be called a more or less complete genealogical order. 

 We find, also, that the conditions of evolution — 

 heredity and variation — are conspicuously illustrated 

 by the vegetable kingdom ; and that the factors of 

 evolution may similarly be observed. Even the 

 most striking examples cited by our grandfathers as 

 evidence of Creative Design, are found to be suscep- 

 tible of a rational explanation in terms of such a 

 theory as natural selection. Everywhere we find 

 the most striking illustrations of the principle of 

 adaptation to environment. In short, every kind 

 of evidence which the vegetable kingdom might be 



