Mirbel and his German opponents moved for the most part in a circle of ideas which had been formed by the speculations of Malpighi, Grew, Hedwig and Wolff, though it must be allowed that the observations of Treviranus did open new points of view. But JOHANN JAKOB PAUL MOLDENHAWER[78] travelled far beyond these older views as early as 1812 in his important work, ‘Beiträge zur Anatomie der Pflanzen.’ He took up from the first a more independent position as regards former opinions than either of the writers hitherto considered. He relied on very detailed, varied, and systematic observations evidently made with a better instrument, abided by what he himself saw, and chose his point of view in accordance with it, while he criticised the views of his predecessors in detail with an unmistakable superiority, and in so doing displayed minute acquaintance with the literature of the subject and varied phytotomical experience. He fixed his eye firmly on the points in question, and made each one the subject of earnest investigation and copious and perspicuous discussion. His figures prove the carefulness of his examination and the greater excellence of his instrument; they are undoubtedly the best that were produced up to 1812. His mode of dealing with his subject and his figures, though they were not executed by himself, remind us in many respects of von Mohl, though it would be more correct to say that von Mohl’s manner reminds us of Moldenhawer, for from the great respect which von Mohl displays for him, especially in his earlier writings, it can scarcely be doubted that he formed himself on Moldenhawer’s ‘Beiträge,’ and first learnt from them the earnestness and carefulness demanded by phytotomic work.