( 329 ) 
CHAP. 25. 
Piftory of the difcovery of the fexes of plants — ^ha 
do5lrine of the antients on this head — ^Hheir 
knowledge very limited — "Jhe univerfality of this 
procejs — ^he difcovery of Millington and Grew 
— Suhfequent writers ^ who have confirmed or op-' 
pojed the do5lrine—TreJent idea of it exhibited^ 
SEX OF PLANTS. 
rr^O the revival and eftablifliment of 
A method^ fucceeded a difcovery of the 
higheft importance to botanical fcience^ 
I mean, what is, v^ith great judice, called 
analogically. The doctrine of the fexes of 
plants^ or, the knovv^ledge that, throughout 
the vegetable kingdom, the influence of the 
duiL of the ant her a y upon the Jiigma, was 
neceffary in order to produce fertile feed.' 
By the eftablifhment of this fafl:, not only 
the phyfiology of vegetables was greatly 
advanced, but, in the end, practical botany 
equally improved ; flnce, on this foundation 
has been built that l}^fl;em of the great 
Swede^ 
