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The Sex and Generative Organs of Plants, in connexion with 

 the Science of Morphology, By Von Martius, trans- 

 lated by John Macpherson, Esq, Assistant Surgeon, 



All living things are kept in activity and in motion by two 

 powerful impulses, which are the springs of existence : the 

 impulses of self-preservation and of reproduction. 



The first rules life from its beginning to its end : the second 

 awakens later, does not last during the whole period of life, 

 developes itself in many organisations only once, while in 

 others it returns periodically, and disappears with the ad- 

 vance of years. Both impulses are in certain respects op- 

 posed to each other, and develop themselves often at their 

 mutual expence ; while subject to the impulse of self-preser- 

 vation, the individual belongs only to itself and to the 

 present; while subject to that of reproduction, it is of use to 

 a something external to itself, and to the future. The latter 

 impulse permits the multiplication of individuals, and secures 

 to every kind of living being an uninterrupted continuance, 

 while the individual organisations, decaying and temporary, 

 last only a certain period of time, which is short in com- 

 parison with the life of the kind. 



Obedient to this last impulse, the individual forms for 

 posterity another individual exactly like itself in all its im- 

 portant relations. By it, life is continued, if not in indivi- 

 duals, yet in the whole ; by it, living organisations perpetu- 

 ate their inner and outer form, their activity and their 

 peculiar vital functions. 



To unfold, however, this last impulse for the produc- 

 tion of a new life, there is required a certain kind of op- 

 position in the state of action, and in the condition of the 

 individual. Various powers must be put in action, and dif- 

 ferent shares have to be borne by certain particular parts. 

 Such variety of organisation is, however, a necessary condi- 

 tion of life. What is dead, can alone be quite homogeneous — 



