1G 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT. 



up in the axil of the leaf, at the time when it is young and 

 growing, and, as the bud on the branch, corresponds especially 

 with the small portion of cellular tissue which divides at the 

 articulation into two merithals, a superior and inferior, and is 

 continuous with the outermost part of the medullary tissue. 

 The cellular stratum, which is at first green, which afterwards 

 appears dotted, containing starch-grains, is altogether conformable 

 with the tissue which constitutes the dissepiment between the 

 two merithals. But the receptacles appear at first in the form 

 of very minute cellular prominences on the liber and albumen, 

 just opposite to the dissepiment and on its outer part; and 

 then on the apex the margin of a slight depression begins to 

 put forth several scarcely discernible processes, which are de- 

 stined to form the scales ; and the florets shortly afterwards grow 

 in the centre of the depression. At the same time a very 

 delicate vascular tissue is formed at the base, which is united to 

 that of the two merithals. In the course of vegetation, the re- 

 ceptacle increasing becomes concave, and the aperture contracting 

 remains closed by the scales. Subsequently the vascular fibres, 

 which are accompanied by the lacteal cells, enter the scales, and, 

 distributed under the cuticle of the receptacle, are united by means 

 of lateral branchlets to those of the florets. 



This being the case, if we consider the scales as the tips of so 

 many leaves whose bases, fused and incorporated into a single 

 mass, constitute the body of the fig, a strong impression made 

 on the scales, which are the extremities of the organic elements 

 of which it is composed, must promote the flow of the sap from 

 the branch to which it is attached. 



The pollen serves essentially to form the seminal embryo, and, 

 notwithstanding the destructive effect which it produces on the 

 stigma, on the style, and finally on the collecting hairs, as has 

 been observed in the hemp, promotes in certain plants the flow of 

 moisture, the softening and maturation of the pericarp. The 

 peduncles of Hovenia dulcis increase after flowering, become 

 tender, juicy, and sweet. The receptacle of the strawberry, in 

 consequence of fecundation, increases into that juicy tender pulp 

 which we call the fruit. We have many similar examples in the 

 vegetable kingdom. I do not pretend to assimilate the fact of 

 the early ripening of the fig by the operation of the above-men- 

 tioned agents to that of fecundation : that has for its object the 

 growth of the embryo, the presence of which, while forming, at- 



