70 LETTERS ON TREES. 



that an interrupted character is given to their evolu- 

 tion, and a seasonal aspect imparted to their develop- 

 ment — which, however (striking as it is), denotes, after 

 all, merely an epoch " in their vegetation.* And, 



Secondly^ In accordance with these views, Dr Car- 

 penter refuses to regard the buds and their produce, 

 or the Cambium and its produce, as distinct, separate, 

 or individual formations — still less as the representa- 

 tives of a new generation. He refuses to co-ordinate 

 the bud with the seed, or to allow to the wood the 

 character of roots. And he further maintains, that 

 only such an organism as has proceeded from a seed," 

 itself the product of two distinct kinds of cell — the one 

 a germ-cell," and the other a sperm-cell" — can or 

 ouo'ht to be reo-arded as an individual bein^. 



4c These A'iews are manifestly directly opposed to 

 my theory ; and, if sound, subversive of it. But they 

 are, in my judgment, untenable ; and that they are 

 so I will now endeavour to shew you. 



5. I begin by considering an assertion which Dr 

 Carpenter makes in regard to the general cellular 

 basis. And I do so, because I believe the discussion 

 of it will bring out an issue that will serve as a touch- 

 stone to determine whether in the main his views or 

 mine are the more worthy of adoption. 



6. Speaking of the Cambium-layer, and of its being 

 in a state of continual increment," he says : — The 



Ibid, p. 236. 



