14 BULLETIN OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



ment in this series. Under eacli division we shall 

 discuss, («) its most general principles, (b) their applica- 

 tion to Acadian plants, (c) present knowledge as to 

 Acadian plants, {d ) problems requiring solution. "We 

 are to confine our attention in the main to flowering 

 plants. The divisions are as follows : 



A. TJie Adajjtations of Plants to Inorganic Nature. This includes 

 the relationship of living matter to the very physical and chemical 

 nf.ture of the vporld, and to the lavrs of Physics and Chemistry. It 

 traces how, as a resultant of all thesre external influences, the higher 

 plant has been produced, "with its peculiar nutrition and its three prim- 

 ary organs, leaf, root, stem. It further considers the response in these 

 organs to variations in the external conditions — notably meteorological 

 conditions with varying degrees of moisture, heat, etc., and forces 

 brought to bear upon the plant, including, with others, gravity, wind, 

 weight of snow, beating of rain, water currents, etc., or, in a word, 

 all the variations of the external inorganic world. Here comes the 

 treatment of the origin of climatic groups, and of the main causes of 

 plant-form and size, and the structural phenomena of life-cycles. 



B. The Ada2Jtations of Plants to other Organic Beings. This 

 includes their relationship to animals, protection from them by spines, 

 chemicals, etc., and utilization of them for defence against other animals, 

 and of their powers of locomotion for the transfer of pollen and scatter- 

 ing of seed. It includes also their relationship to plants of the same and 

 other kinds, under the former treating the little known subject of 

 competition and development of new races, and under the latter com- 

 petition upon a larger scale, with its consequent forcing of groups into 

 parasitic, water, and other special habits originating the biological 

 groups. It includes also symbiosis of living together of organisms for 

 mutual advantage. In this division the whole subject of competition 

 is most important, for the Darwinian hypothesis of evolution hinges 

 thereupon, and very little of positive knowledge has yet been gained 

 about it. 



C. Ada2)tations of Plants to Rej)roduction. This includes the origin 

 of the flower and its biological significance as an organ for securing the 

 cooperation of two parents in the production of offspring. This 

 introduces also the subject of cross-fertilization and the utilization of 

 locomotive agencies for securing pollen transfer. Meaning of colors, 

 shapes, time of flowering, clusters, etc., in fact, all floral phenomena 

 belong here, together with sexual reproduction and hybridization. 



