368 



PHYTOLOGY. 



have their parts respecting external influence renewed every year, such 

 as the parts of generation ; therefore they may be said to be always 

 young, because these new-formed parts are young, and it is those young 

 parts that perform the natural actions of the plant. 



The Hazel-tree sends out its male parts in August and September 

 on the same summer shoot, by the side of a bud. Is the male tree 

 strongest ; e. g. in a Palm ? 



To produce seed is the ultimate power in vegetation. In vegetables 

 there a*re several stages of perfection. The first is the flower, at which 

 stage the vegetable may proceed no further ; the second is the fruit, 

 which may be produced, but not with perfect seed ; and the third is 

 where the whole is perfected. 



When a seed is put into the ground the root commonly grows 

 downward from that seed, although the point from which the root 

 grows is placed upward. Vice versa with regard to the stem. 



The first growth in a seed is the root, and then the stem. Cut off 

 the root, a new root sprouts oirt ; but the growth of the stem is 

 stationary till the new root is fit to carry nourishment to the plant. 



Monsters in Vegetables. — In vegetables we have monsters ; that is, a 

 deviation from the common principles in some of the productions, either 

 in form, flower, seed, or colour ; and this it is which has produced the 

 varieties in species. It arises more from cultivation than any other 

 influence ; and the cause of varieties, viz. cultivation, becomes also the 

 cause of their being preserved and propagated. Their propagation is, in 

 many, perfectly artificial, viz. by budding or engrafting ; but, when left 

 to the natural mode of continuance, they either go back to the original 

 again ; or, at least, it is not certain what will be the produce ; a new 

 monster may arise. All our finer fruits are instances of this kind. In 

 some vegetables, when a monster arises, it never dwindles gradually 

 back into the original stock; but keeps the same, excepting another 

 monster arises, which may be that of the original stock from whence it 

 came, or any other. Beans, Peas, &c. are changing every day. 



Vegetables are much more in 'our power to manage than animals. 

 Thus a plant can be made a dwarf, it can be made to shoot strong, it 

 can be made to vary, it can be made to bear. 



[Loose Notes. .] 



Qu. Has any one of the juices of a vegetable the power of converting 

 either animal, vegetable, or even earth, to living vegetable matter, 

 similar to that [power in the gastric juice] of an animal ? 



Mem. To cut off the flowers of the Leek, to see if it will shoot out 

 more young Leeks than common on that account. 



