FIRST PERIOD. ig 



he demonstrates the existence of two sexes , and 

 of the phenomena of fecundation, in vegetables: 

 thus it was in the King's Garden that this great 

 discovery, which had been only hinted at before 

 and was not generally admitted , was first posi- 

 tively announced, and supported by irrefragable 

 proofs. 



Danty d'Isnard retired after delivering a single 

 course of lectures. Fagon then occupied himself 

 in seeking among the pupils of Tournefort, a per- 

 son capable of disseminating his doctrine, and of 

 filling a chair which his fame had rendered so 

 conspicuous. A young man of Lyons who , after 

 studying medecine at Montpellier , had come to 

 Paris to perfect himself in botany under that ce- 

 lebrated master, appeared in every respect suit- 

 ed to his purpose. Antony de Jussieu , whose 

 name has become celebrated by the impulse 

 which himself, his two brothers, and his ne- 

 phew have given to botanical science , was 

 named professor in 1709, though only twenty 

 three years of age : he fully justified this choice 

 by the ability displayed in his lectures , and by se- 

 veral memoirs, which soon after procured him 

 admittance to the academy of sciences. In 1716 

 he visited Spain and Portugal , and the next year 

 brought back a great accession of plants to the 

 garden. He was, accompanied by his brother 



3. 



