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of the plant. This is frequently the case with the Anthoxanthum, or 
vernal grass, as well as the fescue grass of the bushes, which produce® 
bulbs from the sheaths of its straw. A most wonderful exhibition of vi¬ 
viparous propagation, and one which would seem to indicate its superior¬ 
ity over the oviparous method, is to be seen in the Allium magicum, or 
magical onion, which produces buds on its head instead of seeds. The 
same extraordinary attempt of nature is seen in the case of the Polygo¬ 
num viviparum, whose beautiful flowers are succeeded by bulbs instead 
of seeds. The buds fall off, take root, and propagate, in precisely the 
same way as the buds, or seed-eyes, of the tuberous plants. To charge 
upon nature a defect in her generative economy from these exhibitions of 
her productive power, is not only unphilosophical in principle, but illo¬ 
gical in fact. It is reasoning from unknown causes to impracticable re¬ 
sults, and predicating infertility of an inexpungible law of life. 
It is a well known fact in vegetable physiology, that buds are occasion¬ 
ally developed, even in oviparous plants, from the axillae of the petals 
and sepals, and that branches shoot forth from the centre of pistils inde¬ 
pendently of their sexual arrangements. Stamens not only become pe- 
taloid, but petals essentially antheriferous. Theoretically considered, 
these, and other like modifications, may be regarded as accidental, or ab¬ 
normal, results; but not so with those plants which invariably propagate 
upon the asexual system. All that we know, or care to know, of those 
vital forces of nature, is that they exist, and are constantly resulting in 
development. Each plant, or species, has its distinctive vitality, which 
results in organization; which builds up and develops itself in definite 
living forms. This vitality is distinguished from mere chemical force, 
which results in decomposition and combination only ; which does not 
build up except geometrically. Physiologists may object to the expres¬ 
sions vital force, or vitality, as scientifically inaccurate; but how can we 
conceive of organized being without admitting of vitality? And this 
vital force, when acting, never fails to produce specific forms. It exhibits 
its individual quality, so to speak; its directive and formative character, 
the same as chemical force exhibits itself in decomposition and combina¬ 
tion. The oak and the maple always produce their specific forms ; result 
in distinctive individualities. It is this specific, formative, directive force 
which we call life ; which is to the vegetable and animal kingdoms what 
