2 
Wenham, on the Vegetable Cell. 
not a very general existence, and this name is continued 
throughout the whole series of subjects to which the science 
relates, often giving rise to a maze of hypothesis. I make 
the remark because the physiology of the vegetable cell is an 
example of this. Let any one desirous of knowing in what 
manner the cell is said to be first formed, take up the ela- 
borate works on the subject by the continental writers, he will 
find it there stated that an universal and necessary condition 
of the existence of the cell is the first formation of a central 
nucleus, termed the " cytoblast." Around this is next 
formed a membrane which eventually encloses the cell con- 
tents, this is named the "primordial utricle," and by the 
division and duplication of this, successive cells are supposed 
to be accumulated. 
The primordial utricle is a necessary condition in the 
anatomy of some unicellular plants, such as the Desmidiece and 
Alycc^ for, in these instances, the folding inwards of this im- 
portant membrane causes a constriction of the contents of each 
cell, and a reproduction and multiplication by self-division ; 
but the same analogy cannot be extended throughout the vege- 
table kingdom, in those cases where a system of cells have a 
mutual dependence upon each other. In unicellular plants 
each cell is one in its most complicated condition, and 
capable of continuing its existence as a separate plant, inde- 
pendently of others, and is therefore provided with special 
organs requisite for this peculiar mode of growth. 
Those microscopists who, like myself, experience the most 
fervent delight in reading a page directly from the book of 
nature, may resort to their microscopes again and again in the 
hope of witnessing the first creation of the vegetable cell, in 
relation to the acting conditions of the cytoblast and pri- 
mordial utricle. The search may be carried from tree, shrub, 
flowers, or fruit, and be alike in vain. No direct ocular 
evidence will be obtained of the existence of this nucleus and 
membrane, and the attempt is abandoned at last, perhaps not 
without some feelings of humiliation at the supposed un- 
skilful manipulation, that failed to discover facts, believed to 
have been firmly established. 
Before proceeding to describe the formation of the vege- 
table cell, I must premise that I am fully aware that the 
interests of science are not to be promoted by controversy 
based entirely upon mere hypothesis ; I have, therefore, care- 
fully avoided this. The illustrations were drawn directly 
with the camera lucida in exact conformity with the originals, 
and I have confined myself entirely to what I have seen ; but 
this course will not perhaps justify the assumption of a dog- 
