1 20 Dr Emmons on the Influence of 



the question comes up, where did all the seeds come from ? 

 The case is one which is common, it becomes prominent only 

 from the relation which the plants wheat and chess bear to 

 each other ; looking like a grain in the midst of a grain field, 

 being a hardy plant too, and springing up where it is not 

 wanted, it has excited attention and imperfect observation, 

 and in the end proving so worthless with its associates, it 

 becomes prominent from its worthlessness. When we have 

 ascertained the fact that seeds possess the power of retain- 

 ing what is called vitality for a long period, that they may 

 sleep in the ground for years, and then subsequently awaken 

 into life, by heat and air, or favourable conditions ; that all 

 this is true, and eminently so of some seeds, the fact of the 

 appearance of chess in an old field, or in a field prepared for 

 wheat, ceases to be a mystery. It is only a fulfilment of a 

 law of vegetation ; it occurs in obedience to the characteris- 

 tics which have been stamped upon organized beings by the 

 Creator, in order that the earth shall be clothed with ver- 

 dure, and not lie in a barren waste. 



It has been maintained that species have a tendency to rise 

 in the scale of existence, that they may change their own 

 proper natures and become something else. Such a view is 

 analogous to that which prevails among farmers about chess, 

 has originated from defective observation, and has its source 

 and beginning from misunderstanding the relations of or- 

 ganized beings to each other. It arises directly from^the 

 fact which has already been stated, viz. the closer resem- 

 blance which one species has to another than others of the 

 same tribe. The pear has a closer resemblance to the apple 

 than it has to the quince. The domestic dog has a closer re- 

 semblance to the wolf than the fox ; and hence it has hap- 

 pened that the idea of an advance or change has taken a deep 

 hold on the minds of some men ; but there has been no change 

 at all, not only are the species kept apart, but groups of or- 

 ganized beings also. Species, in their individual capacity, 

 do not advance towards a higher, neither do they retrograde 

 to a lower species. Plants do not deteriorate, neither do 

 animals ; but they retain all their specific characters. 



There is another view which is interesting, viz., the man- 



