86 FKUIT GEOWS INTO BRANCHES. 



The following cuts represent three Pears, produced in 

 different places, and in different conditions. A Pear blossom 

 consists of a calyx composed of five sepals ; within these appear 

 five petals, next to which stand about twenty stamens ; and m 

 the centre of all are five carpels, or hollow cases, arranged ma 

 ring, and containing seeds. AU these parts are regarded m 

 theory as leaves in an altered state, and the whole flower as a 

 very short branch, destitute of the usual power of lengthenmg, 

 or, which is the same thing, as a leaf-bud, the centre of which 

 will not extend. In the begianing the sepals, petals, stamens 

 and carpels of a Pear flower were scales, placed upon a fleshy 

 centre, and not distinguishable from those scales which ia the 

 leaf-bud become leaves. To use a gardener's language, there 

 was at first no difference "between the blossom-bud and the 

 wood-bud. But, after a time, the parts which were identical 

 begin to be organized differently; in the blossom-bud they 

 gradually change into sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels ; in 

 the wood-bud they become young leaves. But if anything 

 occurs to disturb the development of the blossom-bud as a 

 blossom, then it becomes a wood-bud, or approaches that state, 

 more or less, according to the period at which the disturbing 

 force began to act. It thus appears that whether a bud 

 becomes a flower or a branch, depends entirely upon some 

 unknown force, which acts at a particular moment upon parts 

 originally of identical nature and quality, and capable of 

 becoming leaves ; if this action is complete, a flower is the 

 result ; if incomplete, a monster ; if altogether withheld, then 

 the rudimentary parts, not having their nature changed, proceed 

 to acquire the condition of leaves. Hence it is that when from 

 accidents, such as unusual heat and wet at a critical moment, 

 exuberance caused by the excessive application of rank (azotized) 

 manure, or any circumstances of a similar nature, the usual 

 order of development is disturbed, flowers are not formed — or 

 we have them converted into tufts of leaves, or even branches. 

 The following examples offer conclusive evidence as to the 

 truth of this theory : — 



Fig. XXI. represents a Pear, in which the calyx and its five 

 sepals are not much disturbed, but in which the petals and 



