38 INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 



their absence may be compensated by large intercellular aper- 

 tures, and there is no reason why the same or similar ends, 

 produced by more simple means, if perfectly accomplished 

 and productive of as important results, should be entitled to 

 less dignity than more comphcated processes. We see at once 

 that a heart consisting of one auricle or ventricle is inferior to 

 one presenting two, but then the ends to be accomphshed in 

 the latter case could not be accomplished by the simpler means, 

 and we have nothing to show that the trunk of a Conifer is in 

 any respect inferior to that of any other Phaenogam. The 

 production of a multitude of embryos in the same embryo-sac, 

 again, is scarcely comparable with the analogous phasnomenon 

 in animals, for in vegetables some that have the highest 

 dignity are the most productive ; the multiphcity, therefore, of 

 embryos is rather to be considered as a mark of perfection, 

 especially when it is remembered, that the seeds of Conifers 

 are as perfectly formed as those of any other phsenogamous 

 plant. Where there is some external form upon which to 

 buUd a comparison, as in Club-mosses, and the large fossil Lepi- 

 dostrobi, there is such an utter want of accordance between the 

 mode in which certain similar effects are attained, that there 

 is, as it seems to me, no question as to affinity. 



24. It is desirable, before entering further on the argument, 

 to say a few words on one or two points which are necessary to 

 its perfect apprehension : and the more so, because the view I 

 take is not that of some of the highest botanical authorities, 

 much less of those who have had no opportunity of studying 

 the matter deeply, and are, therefore, likely to be fascinated 

 with the specious arguments and outward resemblances which, 

 at first sight, may seem to indicate that the relation between 

 Phsenogams and Cryptogams is far greater than I am myself 

 able to allow. I shall endeavour to explain my view as simply 

 as I can, and with as little use of technical language. Without 

 some previous knowledge of vegetable physiology, it is not very 

 easy, however, to see the true bearings of the question. 



25. It wUl, in the first place, be useful to the student to illus- 

 trate, in a simple mamier, the terms analogy, homology, and 

 affinity, as they are necessarily used very often, and as fre- 



