424 
DARWIN^S OBSERVATIONS ON THE PHYSIOLOOY 
OF THE PROCESS OF FERTILIZATION 
IN PLANTS. 
BY M. C. COOKE. 
H istory affords us examples of pliilosopliic minds^ like 
briglit stars illumining dark ages^and darting rays through 
the long vista of centuries into remote times. Whenever and 
wherever such lights have broken forth' they have determined 
a point from whence a new era commenced, and created as 
truly a revolution in thought as more social or political mani- 
festations have ripened into revolutions in action. The revo- 
lution of ideas is often claimed by the partisans of convulsions 
which have metamorphosed the Governments of States, but 
the revolution of ideas emanating from philosophic minds, to 
which our attention is more particularly directed, is not less 
positive, but more insinuating ; is less rapid, but more certain ; 
and though no less the result of power, it is that of mind, not 
matter ; of brains, not brawny arms. No one can gaze back- 
wards through the history of science during a few centuries, 
without noticing how certain men, with powerful minds, de- 
termined wills, untiring industry, unity of purpose, and clear 
perception, have given a tone and direction to all thought 
within the sphere of their labours long after their bodies have 
mouldered into dust. Compared with the bulk of men eminent 
in science, such bright particular individuals are not common ; 
but, as compared with other reformers,^'’ if we may use a 
term often degenerated in its application, in art, religion, 
literature, politics, such men are not rare. Such a one, 
though still living and working amongst us, even his opponents 
will almost admit is Charles Darwin. Dispute every step of his 
advance, quarrel with every conclusion as they may, in despite 
of antagonists and antagonism, there is already sufficient evi- 
dence to prove that the author of The Origin of Species has 
inaugurated a revolution in thought, which is gradually spread- 
ing through the whole scientific world. Whether his conclu- 
sions will all be accepted, whether his theory will establish 
itself as a complete fact, is quite another question, which we 
are even disposed to doubt, but there is too much positive 
