On Brong7iiarfs Theory of primeval Vegetation. 373 



Art. XII. Remarks on M. Adolphe JBrongniart' s Opinion as to the 

 Vegetatio7i which covered the Surface of the Earth at the different 

 Epochs of the Formation of its Crust, By Nat, John Winch, 

 Esq. A.L.S. &c. 



Sir, 

 In the sixth volume, of the Edinburgh Philosophical Jour- 

 nal, p. 34<9. &c. Sec, is a translation of M. Adolphe Bron- 

 gniart's essay on the nature of the vegetation which covered 

 the surface of the earth at the different epochs of the formation 

 of its crust. This paper is well worthy the attention of the 

 botanist and geologist ; and sorry should I be if the following 

 remark (for it amounts to no more), which in some measure 

 differs from the preconceived opinion of a valued acquaint- 

 ance, should be thought hostile to his general theory of the 

 ancient state of the globe. But, under the sanction of his 

 name, it is now laid down as a law of nature, not to be dis- 

 puted, that no phaenogamous vegetable existed during the 

 period of the oldest of his epochs, no remains of such plant 

 having been discovered in the fir^ of his four formations, 

 comprising the numerous strata of grauwacke, encrinal lime- 

 stone, and carboniferous rocks, magnesian limestone, and red 

 sandstone. His systematic division of the vegetable kingdoms 

 which at remote periods have from time to time covered the 

 surface of the earth appears to me excellent ; but I can by no 

 means agree with him in the belief, that, in the first of his 

 periods just mentioned, no phaenogamous vegetables were in 

 existence ; for it is a fact well known in this neighbourhood, 

 and at least thirty years have elapsed since the remark was 

 first made, that the large trunks of trees found mineralised in 

 our sandstone strata were branched in the same way as our 

 forest timber, and must of course belong to the dicotyledonous 

 subdivision of plants. As a proof of this, it is only necessary 

 to remark that their branches have been thrown out from 

 knots which enter the heart of the tree, as is the case with 

 trees of a similar description at the present day. This mode 

 of growth, if I mistake not, never occurs in vascular crypto- 

 gamic vegetables, however gigantic may be their size, though 

 it obtains in the tribe Pinus, among which the cotyledons are 

 variously formed. On a future occasion I may trouble you 

 with a few memoranda respecting the vegetable fossils embed- 

 ded in the lias shale of Yorkshire. 



I am. Sir, &c. 



Nat. Jno. Winch. 

 Newcastle upon Tyne, Dec, 10. 1829. 



