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Zbc Cclle of flDo06C0. 



^be Ipreaibential Hbbreee, 



By the Rev. W. H. Lett, M.A., T.C.D. 



^^^^^ 



O trace the life-history of a plant from its beginning 

 as a single cell, up through the repeated divisions 

 or multiplications of that vegetable cell, and the 

 formation or growth of cell after cell, till the com- 

 pound mass of cells known as cell-tissue, of which 

 most plants consist, is reached, is one of the most 

 interesting and important departments of botany. 

 This is considered by most persons such a difficult 

 matter that it is left almost entirely to those who 

 delight in mastering the pages of Sachs' or similar works. But 

 there should be no such insuperable difficulty, and there really is 

 not, in the way of those who possess a good microscope and are 

 endowed with a moderate stock of patience and enthusiasm. 

 Without these there is not much use in a person taking up any 

 subject of study — and Microscopical Botany is no exception. 

 There are obstacles to be overcome, but diligence will effect that, 

 and what knowledge is there of anything that is worth acquiring 

 that is quite free from them ? But some of the deterrents as 

 regards vegetable biology are imaginary, while others dissolve when 

 the task is attempted. And one of these latter is the supposed 

 difficulty of getting suitable specimens of plants wherewith to 

 carry on the needful investigations. Now, as the members of the 

 Postal Microscopical Society are not supposed to know all about 

 everything, my desire in this address is to point out that there is 

 a vast store of objects admirably suitable for this purpose, com- 

 monly found almost everywhere, and at all seasons, and to 

 recommend to the members of the Postal Microscopical Society 

 the exploration of their wonders, and marvellous beauties, of cell 

 form, structure, and composition. 



Algae, and especially those inhabiting fresh water, are most 

 useful, and are often employed for the object in contemplation, but 



