Philosophy of Botany. 227 



phy. The reformatory idea which Goethe conceived in the 

 view of living nature, is the idea of evolution. When in fact 

 C. F. Wolff did prepare the way for the study of development, 

 by the method of microscopic examinations, so likewise 

 Goethe did initiate morphology, the exposition of the forms 

 of plants and animals. Goethe sees the essence of life not in 

 the perfected form, no matter how complicated the structure, 

 nor in the mechanical efforts or fruition, which ever anew re- 

 curring, represent the play of life. He conceives every or- 

 ganism to be a process of development, beginning with the 

 moment of the birth, and passing through a series of condi- 

 tions to its final termination. The universe and the individ- 

 ual obey the same law, as Goethe gives it: 



Es muss such regen, schaffend handeln, ..; , , , 



Nur sheinbar stehts Momente still; 

 Das Ewlge regt sich fort in Allem, 

 Donn Alles muss In Nichts zerfallen, 

 Wenn es im Seln beharren will. 



Even systematic- botany has profited from morphological 

 comparisons, which permitted it to draw its ideas from pro- 

 founder sources, and to adduce a rational interpretation of the 

 genesis of the organs to the mere description of external 

 forms. 



Since Alexander Von Humboldt, animated by the charm and 

 grandeur of the impressions which he had received on his 

 journeys, had raised the geography of plants to the dignity of 

 a science, it has become clear that there exists an intimate con- 

 nection of species, genera, and families of plants, with the 

 conformation of the surface of the planet, and the conditions 

 of soil and climate. 



Let it begin to stir, give birth, 

 Take shape first, then convert. 

 Seemingly for moments stands it still; 

 Eternal motion is eternal's zeal. 

 Be sure it 'will dissolve to naught 

 If to stand still it be brought. 



More fruit bearing than any are the ideas connected with the 

 evolutionary doctrines of Darwin, which explain how the in- 



