LETTER XII. 



123 



the woody layer is formed in situ, and is altogether a 

 special formation. And denying to it the character 

 of roots, they might ask, and so as to cast discredit on 

 my theory — ''Where are the roots of those annual 

 growths and alleged perfect plants in trees?" And, 

 again, '' What is there in annual and avowedly perfect 

 plants, at all analogous to the woody layer in exogens ? " 



4. Before discussing these questions in detail, I 

 have some remarks to offer which will in fact reduce 

 them to a single question — protesting, at the same 

 time, that Nature is not to be tied and bound after a 

 fashion of this sort. Suppose the growths emanating 

 from the buds on trees to be actually destitute of roots, 

 this would by no means take from them the character 

 of perfect and entire plaiitSj if it could be shewn that 

 the office of roots is otherwise adequately provided for. 

 '' Natura ne fit per plura quod potest fieri per 

 paucioraJ' On the other hand, the fact of a structure 

 entering into the constitution of those growths not to 

 be found in confessedly perfect annuals, — allowing this 

 to be true of the woody layers of trees, would not at 

 all affect their claim to be equally so regarded, if it 

 could be shewn to be required either to meet some 

 condition of their existence peculiar to themselves, or 

 to serve some ulterior purpose in the economy of 

 Nature designed to be accomplished through them. 

 The mollusk is not less truly a perfect animal because 

 of its wanting a bony skeleton than the mammal which 



