61 



The production of wax is also explained : — 



" This powder {pollen) is collected by the bees j and is formed by 

 some secret process in their bodies into wax ; which is a singular species 

 of vegetable oil, rendered concrete by a peculiar acid in the insect." 



In discussing the uses of the several parts of the flower he says : — 

 ^' We cannot believe, with most botanists, that the corolla has no other 

 use in the vegetable economy than merely to cover and guard the sexual 



organs An artery belongs to each portion of the corolla ; which 



conveys the vegetable blood to the extremities of the petal, there expos- 

 ing it to the light and to the air, under a delicate membrane ; when it 

 often changes its color, and is seen beautifully in partly-colored tulips 



and poppies It is presumed that this breathing and circulating 



structure has for its end the sustenance of the anthers and stigma ; as 

 well as for the elaboration of honey, wax and essential oil ; and for per- 

 fecting the prolific powder." 



He thus describes Linnaeus's theory of fructification : — " The 

 medullary part of the plant, that is to say, the pith, must be joined 

 with the external or cortical part, for the purpose of producing a new 

 one. If the medulla be so vigorous as to burst through its containing 

 vessels and thus mix with the cortical part, a bud is produced ; other- 

 wise, the medulla is extended until it terminates in the pistellum ; and 

 the cortical part is likewise elongated till it terminates in the antherae." 



Such are a few of the lessons taught to our first botanists. Many 

 others might have been instanced, but these are sufiicient to give an 

 idea of the obscurity of many of the points. In the anatomy of the 

 plants he is as proficient as we are at the present day, and the descrip- 

 tions are exactly such as will be found in our text books ; it is in the 

 physiology of vegetable life that he fails, and it is here that all the 

 progress has been made since that time. 



One thing particularly noticeable is tlie excellence of the language 

 and composition, and the care shown in the arrangement of each lec- 

 ture ; also the success of his efibrts to make them interesting and attrac- 

 tive. To give you an idea of this feature of his work, it will not be out 

 of place to conclude with the following extract from one of his lec- 

 tures. 



P 



