298 The Vegetable Indzeidual, in its relation to Species. 
demand an accurate examination.* From the Botanist such an 
examination is particularly demanded ; as the vegetable ideal pre- 
sented to us by the science in its earlier stages has been obscured 
by conceptions obtained from the animal kingdom having been 
transferred to Botany, thoug!y based upon the mistaken assumption 
that plants possess the seme independent individuality as animals, 
the same organs with equally well-defined functions, and the same 
mutually dependent relations of the vital activities. And the 
investigations of late years, forsaking the old views more and 
ore, have arrived at no well-defined conclusions, and, particu- 
larly as regards vegetable individuality, seem to lead more to 
negative than to positive results. After all, this should not surprise 
us; for even a superficial investigation shows relations in plants 
which will hardly harmonize with the common conceptions of 
a preae ed and which require a careful review. 
gle species of which any one individual is a perfect representative : 
on the contrary we see each species adding generation to genera- 
day has ended, whether from internal or external causes. In this 
particular, the species resembles the individual itself; having its 
allotted age, though measured by days of a higher order, and its e Pag 
appointed cycle of life,—in which the individuals appear as mem>- | 
bers occupying a certain time and place,—resembling the succes- ! 
sive relative forms through which the individual passes. F'or | 
the organic individual does not manifest itself in one single per- | 
manent form, but in a succession of forms, now gradually con- ee, 
nected, now broadly interrupted; and these last, especially 10 
plants, may attain to an independence, which gives them the 
character of a subordinate species. ‘To this analogy between ' 
dividuals and species it may be objected, that, in most cases; # _ 
very remarkable BR cif Hie is connected with the suce 
ua 
orms of the individ 
ea urn 
and compare the Be which treat of the plant’s 
il. Botanik (2nd Part), as we have 
; ent, a fi 
he whole science. - The first 
ividuum als Organismus, 
