whose interstice will be the median nerve.

If other vesicles

be developed within these two cells, and become in their turn large tertiary cells, their interstices will form the lateral nerves, and will seem to derive their origin from the median nerve. Other vesicles may, in the same way, be developed into cells in each of the tertiary cells, and others again within these, and so on indefinitely; and a primary microscopic vesicle will be thus transformed almost before our eyes into the leaf of a dicotyledonous plant. At the same time that this development of the cellular texture of the leaf is going on, a vascular connexion with the sap-vessels of the branchlet to which it is attached may be formed through the medium of the hilum or point of attachment of the primary cell, and with this again throughout the leaf, by the hila of the secondary, tertiary and succeeding orders of cells, the interstitial spaces which form the nerves becoming vascular, in consequence of the development of elongated cells or tubes through these points of attachment.

The structure of the floral coverings, that is of the calyx and corolla, is analogous to that of the leaves; consisting of a cuticular expansion, soft and pulpy cellular texture, and fibres or vessels running in a longitudinal direction and ramifying so as to form a kind of network, and differing from the structure of the leaves chiefly in the delicacy of its several parts. But the variety and elegance of their external forms, and the beauty of their colours, are such as to excite our deepest admiration.

"Not a flower

But shews some touch in freckle, streak, or stain,

Of his unrivalled pencil. He inspires

Their balmy odours, and imparts their hues,

And bathes their eyes with nectar, and includes,

In grains as countless as the sea-side sands,

The forms with which he sprinkles all the earth."

The stamens and pistils, or those parts which are more immediately concerned in the process of fructification, and for the preservation and due elaboration of which the more conspicuous parts of the flower are destined, consist apparently of cellular texture only.

The most important part of the fruit is the seed. This organ consists, at least in the flowering plants, of an embryo, or the rudiments of the future plant, and various envelopes, generally two, sometimes three or four. The essential parts of the embryo are the plumula or young plantlet-the radicle or future root-and the cotyledons or seed lobes, destined for the nourishment of the other portions in the first stages of their growth. Another important part of the seed, though not discernible in all plants, is the albumen, that which forms the principal part of the seed in the Cereales and grasses, and which, in one of this tribe, the Triticum hybernum, or wheat, is of such vast and incalculable importance to the welfare of the whole human race.

The

primary divisions of the vegetable kingdom are characterized by these peculiarities in the structure of the embryo. The distribution of plants, however, according to this arrangement, is very unequal. Of about 44,000 species known to exist, 38,000 are flowering plants, of which number 32,000 are dicotyledonous, and only 6000 monocotyledons. The remaining 6000 are cellular plants, and destitute of cotyledons, the structure of their seeds being, indeed, from the extreme minuteness of their organs, very little known, and probably altogether different from that of the seeds of vascular plants. They are perhaps more analogous to bulbs than to perfectly formed seeds.

A bulb consists of an internal firm pulpy substance, surrounded by a filmy envelope or cuticle, and coated with several layers of a loose fibrous expansion. In the centre of the pulpy substance will be found the future plant, which may frequently be observed fully developed in all its parts before there is any appearance of external vegetation. "If the bulb of the tulip is taken up in the beginning of the month of January, and carefully bisected in a line passing through its longitudinal axis, the petals, the stamens, the pistil, and the incipient stem may be already all distinctly perceived, small and delicate in their appearance, but complete in all their parts."*

66

Buds contain the rudiments of leaves and flowers. They consist of a scaly envelope, inclosing the proper bud, which is a pulpy substance, with numerous interlaced fibres, and surrounded by a thin cuticle. In the month of March, 1810," observes Mr. Keith, "I opened up a bud of the horse chesnut that had not yet burst its scales. The scales, which were about fifteen or sixteen in number, being removed, were found to contain one pair of opposite leaves, now laid bare, the divisions of which were closely matted together with a fine down. The leaves upon being opened were found to inclose a flower-spike, consisting of not less than a hundred florets compactly crowded together, and each enveloped by its own downy calyx, which when opened discovered the corolla, stamens, and pistil distinct, the rudiments of the future fruit being also discernible in the ovary."+

This singularly curious fact affords a striking illustration of the general correctness of the principles attempted to be established in the preceding observations. But these remarks have already extended to too great a length, and to enlarge further upon the subject would exceed our allotted limits. Enough has, however, been brought forward to shew the nature of these curious investigations, and should any of the readers of "The Analyst" be induced, by the deep interest which attaches to it, to pursue the inquiry, these pages will not have been written in vain.

Keith, in Brewster's Journal, August, 1834, p. 114.

† Ibid, p. 115.

To the Editor of the Analyst.

SIR,-In the prospectus of your periodical, I find an invitation to supply your miscellany with such local or statistical information as may instruct or amuse your readers. Hitherto your invitation has been overlooked, yet so important do I consider the information you solicit, that I must beg a page or two whilst I endeavour to second your views in considering a subject inferior to none in that interest which can engage attention, and employ the faculties of the inquirer through the varied walks of intelligence.

The human mind never stagnates, but' is always busily employed in matters of research, it dreads vacuity, and is ever active in pursuit, and, if not engaged in the higher flights of fancy, or the more sober walk of conviction, it seeks a gratification in the unhallowed and reckless influence of a distempered imagination.

Knowledge is necessary to man, and whether it be that which tends to moral instruction and useful attainment, or whether it be that which leads to immoral consequences, and vitiates and degrades the natural energies, is a matter highly important to every relation in life.

Knowledge is the medium through which man can be raised in the scale of created beings, and its essence and character justify his progression, for should it not tend to the purposes of social life, and be profitless in its moral influences, it may be gazed at for its splendor, but rejected for its inutility.

Knowledge, says Lord Bacon, is power, and, he might have added, virtue also; for, through its instrumentality, the affections of the heart and mind are engaged, and lead through a progressive expansion to the consummation of all instruction, religious influences, and moral order. I need not trace its progress, for its steps are perceptible from the lowest grade of ignorance and sensuality to those of wisdom and benevolence, and we find our illustration in those nations and people who have preserved the sameness of nature through successive generations, exemplifying the admitted axiom, that vice and ignorance preserve a close and intimate alliance, and in those who, through the advancement of knowledge, have displayed the fruits of wisdom in the principles of virtue and moral truth.

If these prefatory remarks shall meet with approval, the line of duty is plainly laid before us, through the exercise of those powers with which God has endowed us, to instruct, enlighten, and improve, to the best of our ability in the sphere of life in which we move.-Relative are our duties, and relative their exercise, and although few can attain the higher walks of know

ledge, yet all men of ordinary intellect and education may succeed, to a considerable extent, as their time, their talents, and their opportunity shall allow; and although they may contemplate the acquisition of others as beyond their reach, although they may behold, with dismay, the giants of literature and of science, yet let them not, in an evil hour, throw away the means they possess, nor feel because they cannot attain the highest intelligence, that they are incapable of instructing or amusing their fellow men through such channels as their industry and locality shall allow.

There is no class to whom this admonition applies so forcibly as the resident clergy, whose education, whose attainments, and whose time afford a facility of communicating information beyond that which the leisure of others, however well qualified, will allow-moreover the locality of the clergy is most favourable in affording that particular information which it is the wish and the intention of the writer strongly to recommend and enforce; and if he shall be so fortunate as to impress others with the same conviction of its utility, its interest, and its importance, both as regards science and amusement, which he entertains, he must feel highly gratified with the result, in learning, through the pages of the "Analyst," the statistical relation of those parishes where that periodical is so generally read, and for whose immediate use it is especially intended.

To accomplish this desirable object, the higher branches of science are by no means necessary, nor need it require other aids than an active perception and the ordinary powers of describing what falls within the limits of almost daily observation. That I may be as intelligible as the nature of my subject will allow, I shall beg leave to give a few heads under which might be ranged the objects of inquiry:

Topography and Natural History, as name of parish boundaries, rivers, mountains, minerals, soil, birds, insects, &c.

General History, as to eminent men, battles, or other events. Antiquities, as to buildings, fortifications, or ought else of local

interest.

Population, industry, and means of employment.
Agriculture, &c.

Parochial economy, management of the poor, parish registers, education, and diseases.

Miscellany, climate or other matter not included in the above heads.

Now it appears to me, Sir, that ordinary research and ordinary science are ample for such elucidation of the statistics of each parish, and that a very interesting whole might be produced by these means, somewhat in the manner of an able and entertaining work now in progress "The new statistical account of Scotland," and which I recommend to the attention of your readers.

It may be asked what are the advantages which would result from local knowledge upon subjects generally treated in county histories? To this may be answered that they are compressed and succinct, and do not adopt a wide spreading view of the matters embraced in statistical information, which treats upon subjects wholly omitted, or slighty touched upon by the more general historian.

It may further be asked what is the end to be answered by this local development, and how will it confer a general benefit? To which may be replied, in various and many ways— To the agriculturist it is no small object of inquiry what the nature of soil, its general produce, the influences of seasons, and the description of cattle which depasture the land-To the manufacturer what the staple produce, its character, its means of transmission and its effect upon population, both moral and physical-To the curious, what the boundaries, the rivers, the lakes, the seats, and parks, and pleasure grounds, population or other objects of attention incidental to each parish-To the geologist, what the general nature of stratification, the particular construction of hills, their fossil remains and the mineral qualities-To the antiquarian, what the historical records of each parish, what the remains of years long since past, the ruins, the mounds, the encampments of our hardy ancestors-To the naturalist, what the plants, the birds, their migration, their return, and their natural habits, what the insects, reptiles, &c.—To the literary man, what may be accounted of the illustrious dead and the eminent men of old, and the philanthropist may find much matter for inquiry and interest in the character of the people, the nature and objects of their pursuits, of their relative position in society, and the moral and intellectual progress they have made and continue to make.-These are some of the results to be forwarded by statistical information, and to these may be 'added much that is interesting to a numerous class of persons who employ their leisure in visiting scenes of foreign interest. With this view they travel far and wide over the classic countries of Greece and Italy, in search of the memorabilia of ages long since past, and contemplate their remains associated with the important events which victory has handed down-distance in time and place awake the sympathies and excite the admiration; this is natural and I quarrel not with nature, yet if I cannot advance the latter inducement, I can point to the former, and whilst I admit the merit of such scenic reminiscences which justly merit the enthusiastic admiration of the traveller, I must be allowed to ask, are there no monuments within our own country which claim similar attention? I leave this consideration to the tastes of the opulent, and direct myself particularly to those who feel the importance of gratifying the many whose opportunities forbid extensive inquiry-of promoting the best sensibilities of nature by directing the attention to objects of general interestJune, 1835.-VOL. II. NO. XI.

2 R