308 PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY, ETC. 
the primary and successive formation of which, na: 
ture took all that time, is finished. : 
Linné may be right so far, that plants require a 
certain time to blossom; that in them previously a 
great quantity of sap, which has been carefully di- 
pested, to become fit for the formation of those im- 
portant organs, on which all the propagation of the 
species depend, must be laid up; but that every 
year the rudiments of one part only, and of no 
other, are produced, is certainly not to be proved. 
As little can we suppose, that the pith alone 1s the 
only formative part in plants. We have seen al- 
ready its use and its offices, (§ 268), and we know 
that it may be wanted, which is contrary to the old 
opinion. But that this pith, the bark, the wood, &c. 
should each form a peculiar part of the plant, is so 
much against common experience, that it is hardly 
necessary to reiute it. We find in the springing 
flower, elongations of air vessels, but we never see 
elongations from each particular part, one forming 
the future calyx, another the corolla, and so forth. 
For instance, inthe common sun fiower, (Helianthus 
annuus), where in an immense large receptacle, nu- 
merous small flowers are placed, how should thove 
elongations be able to unfold themselves into florets 
Seo the bark, inner bark, &c. through such a re- 
ceptacle? There would arise a confusion amongst 
those small parts which is never met with. How 
should, besides, the stamina be formed in herbs, 
which are not ligneous, or the pistil, in. plants which 
have no pith? Every one may thus easily conceive, 
that all those opinions are mere hypotheses, which 
may 
