45G Vegeiation of Plants having solid Bulbs, 



poses only, why do they continue during the life of the plant; 

 contrary to the habit of the buds in the branches of trees, and of 

 the albuminous matter contained in the cotyledons of seeds, 

 which, soon after the bud, or young plant, has been developed, 

 disappear, or, at least, change their nature? Why are they, 

 though they slowly diminish in bulk, preserved during all the 

 course of vegetation ; and why do they not perish, like the leaves ? 

 These reflections induced me to think that the bulb must have some 

 important function to perform during the whole life of the plant; 

 no part being given by Nature without an intention. 



Can we suppose that the parent bulb is preserved for the purpose 

 of supplying the offsets with its own substance; and will it be be- 

 lieved (as some have asserted) that this substance forms the off- 

 sets, although their united mass is often four, six, and even more 

 times bigger than the bulb itself? If it has been proved that the 

 deposition of the materials composing this substance is formed 

 from the descending sap ; if we see, ourselves, that the offsets of 

 the crocus, and of the other bulbous plants we have mentioned, 

 evidently grow from the outward to the inward part, it will not 

 be believed, I think, that the substance of the parent bulb, being 

 put in motion, can be immediately conveyed to the offsets; because, 

 besides the objection of the latter being much bigger than the 

 former, how can the substance circulate in the plant and leaves, 

 &c., without undergoing a change ? Or, can it be modified in 

 the leaves, and then return again to its original state ? This would 

 be contrary to common sense. 



What, then, can be the use of the bulb during vegetation ? 

 The following fact gave rise to my ideas on the subject: — 



I put some dry bulbs on a board; and, although they could 

 not push out roots, I found they sprouted as vigorously as those 

 in the ground ; and some of them were so strong, that they even 

 flowered, and continued growing for some time after they had 

 done so. As they had no roots, the growth could be only in 

 consequence of the nourishment received from the substance 

 composing the bulbs ; and, when I examined them, I found that, 

 although they did not appear to be diminished in size, they were 

 become exceedingly light ; and that their white substance was 

 so small, that the upper half of the bulb consisted only of empty 

 coats. From this, and also from observing that the growth of 

 the plant was the same as that of those which had roots, I formed 

 the idea that the substance of the bulb was intended not only for 

 the first developement, but also for the future growth and nou- 

 rishment of the plant. 



I took out of the ground the bulb of a crocus which had 

 arrived at the state of flowering; and I did not perceive any di- 

 minution in its size, weight, or usual solidity. We must not 

 conclude from this, however, that the substance of the bulb had 



