38 THEPHILOSOPHY 



of continuing its fpecies. The embryo of a bud commences its ex- 

 iftence under the bark. Here it remains, for fome time, inclofed in 

 membranous coverings, and attached to the bark by minute fibres, 

 which convey to it a nourifhment fuited to its condition. When 

 arrived at a certain fize and confiftence, it pierces the bark, and 

 flioots out into the open air. If allowed to remain on the parent, it 

 foon burfts through its membranes, and, in time, gives rife to a 

 new branch : But, when detached from the parent, and placed in 

 proper circumftances, it becomes a new individual of the fame fpe- 

 cies. 



Bulbous rooted plants furnifh a ftill ftronger analogy between the 

 increafe of viviparous animals and that of vegetables. In the end 

 of autumn, if the coats of any bulbous root be carefully differed, 

 the entire plant in miniature will appear in the centre of the root. 

 In fpring, this fmall plant, like a foetus inclofed in the uterus, 

 pierces the coats of which the root confifts, and gradually grows till 

 it flowers, ripens its feeds, and dies at the approach of winter, whea 

 a new plant is again formed in the old root. Here we have an ex- 

 ample of the multiplication of plants fimilar to that of the puceron ; 

 but the order of time is reverfed. The puceron is viviparous in 

 fummer, and oviparous in autumn ; but bulbous-rooted plants may 

 be confidered as oviparous in fummer, and viviparous in autumn. 



The fame analogy is to be traced in thofe roots which have what 

 are called eyes, like the potatoe. Thefe eyes are all plants in mi- 

 niature, which live in that ftate during the winter, and, when com- 

 mitted to the foil, come to maturity in fummer. 



There are ftill other modes of multiplying common to the ani- 

 mal and vegetable. INIany plants are multiplied by fuckers, flips, 

 and cuttings. 



The 



