Researches in the Theory and Calculus of Operations. 309 



ing the entire process of growth. At the limit of the macro- 

 cosmical expansion, each nebulous portion is condensed 

 and reversed in its course ; but all being continuous, all 

 proceeded in connection towards the common origin. But 

 in the vegetal expansion, the operating forces in each an- 

 ther are condensed in its nuclei the pollen grains, whose 

 expanding force soon splits open the- enclosing membrane, 

 aud some of the pollen finds its way to the central stigma 

 generally by means of external agency. 



Each pollen-grain, then, is a condensed miniature germ 

 of a future vegetal individual or microcosm. Its chance of 

 realizing such future state of existence depends on its find- 

 ing a congenial medium suitable to the powers of its own 

 feeble forces, in which at first to deploy its activity. Such 

 a medium it will find in the ovary of the pistil, provided 

 it can reach the stigma. In this attained medium the pollen- 

 force takes up its abode in virtue of the affinity engendered 

 between it and the ovarian substances, as positive and nega- 

 tive forces by the centrally tending antherial emanations. 

 The remaining process consists in condensing and coating 

 the granules formed by the action of the pollen in the ovary 

 (analogous to the condensing and coating of the planets), 

 and concluding by enlarging and finally bursting the cap- 

 sule, when the seeds or nuts fall to the ground (as the suc- 

 cessive spherical strata descended upon the sun); where, 

 when favorable temperatures and other conditions conspire, 

 a new cycle of action commences with the genesis of an 

 offspring resembling its parent in virtue of the resultant 

 forces so combined as necessarily to dictate heredity. 



Like our exemplary billiard ball waiting in repose for a 

 moving impulse from without ; so the enclosed seed, nut or 

 egg, may remain at rest for an indefinite period, under the 

 equilibrating effect of its own forces ; but eftsoons a per- 

 sistent external application of warmth excites internal dis- 

 turbance by unbalancing the forces, a throbbing and swel- 



