FnTtTHK ]>OTANIST. 9 



for all these terms nieau the same thing-. Mixed up ^vitli this 

 study of suitability is another problem of still g-reater importance 

 — •' The Evolution of J'lant Org-ans." Darwin's work on the •• Origin 

 of Species " was incomplete in one respect. He showed that if a 

 more suitable variety were granted, this best variety would be 

 chosen by Nature just as a gardener would select it, namely, by 

 weeding out the others which were less suitable. Darwin did >wt 

 show liow the variety arose. 



In some cases the climate, by its own direct inlluence, produces 

 that variety which is the most iitted to itself. It is true that this has 

 only been proved in a few cases, but the theory may be entirely 

 general. A simi'de instance will make this clear. The first time that 

 .a man rows in a boat he discovers that he blisters the hand at the 

 root of his fingers ; this jiainful result is followed by the formati'>n 

 of hard skin pads at the place, and with these he can row without 

 pain. It is only i-cqiiired to suppose that these pads or hardnesses 

 should l)e inherited to see how, in this instance, the direct action 

 of the surroundings produces the variety best suited to resist them. 

 To put it more simply, there are two distinct branches of botany, 

 the one '• Wliy plants have certain organs and arrangements," 

 and the other, " How they produced such organs." It is obvions, 

 if we wish to study these questions, it is quite essential that 

 we should have a thorough knowledg-e of the climate, habitat, 

 or environment of every plant, and that is exactly what 

 we do not possess. The late Dr (xilchrist had a very clear 

 idea of this problem. I quote his exact words : '• It is very diffi- 

 cult, from its extreme complexit}-, involving a knowledge of the 

 plant's relation to whatever can modify its growth, to the soil on 

 which it grows, to the air which it breathes, to the sun which gives 

 it light, to the rain, dew, or snow which afford it moisture." I do 

 not know when these words ^\•ere spoken, but it shows that Dr 

 Gilchrist anticipated the very newest botanical ideas. 



Perhaps the best method is to take the various organs of the 

 plant in detail, and to try and show why they have then- present 

 siiape, and perhaps, in some cases, how these have been evolved, 

 l-'lowers are the inore important organs, and it is on this 

 account that in the Flora of Dumfriesshire I have included insect 

 visitors where possible, these being essential parts of a flower's 

 environment. I found it impossible in one season to investigate 

 more than six species thoroughly, on account of the unfortunate 



