244 PHILOSOPHICAL NOTES ON 



feeds it, and usually, and very generally, it is incapable of 

 variation. 



So here we have two important parts : (a) the seed — an 

 organ of variation ; it therefore possesses the power of adapt- 

 ing itself to new surroundings, with the disadvantage, however, 

 of the chance of losing already acquired useful characters ; and 

 (b) the axillary bud — an organ of reproduction. It has the 

 advantageous power of retaining and perpetuating any useful 

 characters already obtained. 



It is plain, therefore, that it must have been of great service 

 to the species for the individual to retain a piece of itself which 

 did not wither with the change of season, as the buds of many 

 annuals do. It was also useful that the axillary bud should not 

 vary to the extent that the seed might do, so that if the latter 

 should produce any disadvantageous variation, which might en- 

 danger its life, there would always be the axillary bud to fall back 

 upon, and to reproduce any good quality already obtained. Or, to 

 put it in other w^ords, we might look upon the seed as a feeler or 

 scout, with powers of new variations, with the view of further 

 progress ; it may or it may not succeed. On the contrary, the 

 bud is a conservative organism, which maintains any good feature 

 already acquired.; 



The horticulturist imitates this proceeding to a nicety. When 

 he has obtained a desirable variety by seed, he keeps it up by 

 cuttings or division, that is, he propagates it by bud, while at the 

 same time he goes on sowing the seed in order to obtain new 

 variations, sometimes worthless, sometimes useful. By under- 

 ground stems or stolons the individual plant does a similar thing. 

 It searches for new ground and nourishment, but it only 

 reproduces the parent features. 



I do not think that it admits of doubt that any advantages 

 which the individual has already accumulated can only be safely 

 retained by maintaining a piece in its embryonic condition — a 

 dormant bud — and protect it through an inimical season with the 

 object of rejuvenating the exact qualities of the parent with the 

 returning favourable season. It is evident also that this can bo 

 done in the best way by this piece forming part of the permanent 

 portion of the plant, that is, either the stem or the root. This, I 

 take it, is the object of the axillary bud, or any other ordinary 

 bud, as interpreted from the struggle-for-existence point of view. 



