32 
« The removal of the seminal-leaves in the buck-wheat had a still greater 
effect than with the beans/’ 
“ Almost all the plants of the former, which underwent that operation, 
perished: and those which survived the loss, remained so stinted, that, in 
comparison with the others, they were as the smallest dwarfs to the biggest 
giants, or as plants growing upon the most barren land to those flourishing 
in the most fruitful.” 
“ After three weeks their height was only an inch, the length of their 
longest leaves but four lines, with two and a half in breadth: whereas, those 
possessed of their sem inal-leaves had grown six inches in height, and the length 
of their largest leaves was twenty-seven lines, with a breadth nearly equal.” 
“ The former did not put forth flowers before the 12th of September; 
whereas the others were in full bloom on the 2d.” 
“ This on the 24th of October had arrived at only five inches in height, 
had no lateral branches, produced the smallest flowers, and very few, which 
remained steril: whereas, the others were actually two feet five inches in 
height, were loaded with branches, and produced abundant flowers, bearing 
fruitful seeds 
As the bean seemed to be less injured by the deprivation of the lobes, 
Bonnet made the following experiment. 
“ I put,” says he, “ some beans in sponge full of water.” 
“ When they began to swell, and the lobes to separate, I cut them off 
from that part where they were united by two small bundles of fibres to the 
plantule.” 
“ These germs (consisting of the plume which presented its leaves art¬ 
fully folded one upon the other, and inclined towards its other part the ra- 
* This vegetable fact might teach us a lesson respecting the rearing of our own offspring. It is 
of great importance to be informed, that no food is so fit for the babe as that which Nature has kindly 
prepared for him. But the moment a child enters into the world, that instant he is crammed with 
gruel, pap, and other improper diet, and no wonder he should afterwards become dwarfish, distorted, 
pot-bellied, and unhealthy. It is in vain that this analogy be shewn to the inconsiderate. 
For you no Dryads dress the roseate bower, 
For you no Nymphs their sparkling vases pour; 
Unmarked by you, light Graces swim the green. 
It cannot, however, fail to strike those, 
•-whose mind the well-attemper’d ray 
Of Taste and Virtue lights with purer day; 
Whose finer sense, each soft vibration owns 
"YVbth sweet lesponsive sympathy of tones. Darwin. 
