49 
for the purposes of abstract science, to project the 
parts of plants, and especially of flowers or fruit, 
upon plane surfaces, preserving all the organs in their 
clue position with respect to each other, but neglect¬ 
ing form and other minor attributes. Such projec¬ 
tions they call diagrams. Their nature and the 
mode of constructing them will be best understood 
by an example ; for which purpose the Raspberry 
flower may be selected. In this flower the centre is 
occupied by a number of small grains forming a 
circular heap, each grain having a thread or style 
proceeding from its end ; these would be represented 
in a diagram by numerous circles, with or without 
the threads. Next the grains comes a fleshy rim 
which may be represented by a wavy line. Beyond 
this stand about twenty stamens, the expression of 
which would be as many rays, with oblong or glo¬ 
bular heads. On the outside of the stamens are 
placed five petals, imitated by as many curves of any 
form; and then come five green leaves in two rows, 
indicated by any five points. This gives a regular 
figure which represents to the eye of a botanist a 
Raspberry flower ; but, by certain slight alterations 
of form or proportion in the constituent parts, the same 
diagram may be made to change its whole aspect 
without changing its material form; and of these 
changes I should think that intelligent artists might 
avail themselves. Some hundreds of thousands, nay 
millions of variations of this are conceivable, and 
they seem to answer all the exigencies of manufac¬ 
turing art. 
96. I certainly think that, in this way, much may 
be done by the taste and skill of those who know how 
to apply principles to practical purposes. I have 
c 
