CONTENTS OF VOLUME FIRST. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Page 



The Study of Plants in Ancient 

 AND IN Modern Times. 



Plants considered from the point of view 



of utility, 1 



The Description and Classification of Plants, 3 



Page 



Doctrine of Metamorphosis and Speculations 



of Nature-Philosophy, - - - - 7 



Scientific Method based on the History of 



Development, - - - - - 13 



Objects of Botanical Eesearoh at the present 



day, 15 



THE LIVING PRINCIPLE IN PLANTS. 



1. Protoplasts considered as the Seat 

 OP Life. 



Discovery of the Cell: Eesearches of Swam- 



menlam, Leeuwenhoek, and Unger, - 21 

 Discovery of Protoplasm, - - - - 25 



2. Movements of Protoplasts. 



Swimming and Creeping Protoplasts, - 



Movements of Protoplasm in C'ell-cavities, - 



Movements of Simple Organisms — Volvo- 



cinece, Diatomacese, Oscillari», and 



Bacteria, ------ 



28 

 32 



3. Secretions and Constructive Activity 

 OF Protoplasts. 



Cell-sap: Cell-nucleus: Chlorophyll-bodies: 

 Starch : Crystals, _ - _ . 



Construction of the Cell-wall and establish- 

 ment of Connections between neigh- 

 bouring Cell-cavities, - - - - 



41 



42 



4. Communication of Protoplasts with one 

 another and with the Outer World. 



The Transmission of Stimuli and the Specific 



Constitution of Protoplasm, - - - 47 

 Vital Foi'ce, Instinct, and Sensation, - - 51 



ABSORPTION OF NUTRIMENT. 



1. Introduction. 



Classification of Plants, with reference to 



Nutrition, 55 



Theory of Food-Absorption, - - - 57 



2. Absorption or Inorganic Substances. 



Nutrient Gases, ------ 60 



Nutrient Salts, ------ (iO 



Absorption of Food-salts by Water-plants, - 75 



Absorption of Food-salts by Litliciphytes, - 79 



Absorption of Food-salts by Land-plants, - 82 

 Relations of the Position of Foliage-leaves 



to that of Absorbent Eoots, - - 92 



3. Absorption of Organic Matter from 

 Decaying Plants and Animals. 



Saprophj'tes and their Relation to Decavins 



Bodies, ------ 99 



Saprophytes in Water, on the Bark of Trees, 



and on Rocks. 104 



Sapro])hytes in the Humus of Woods, 



Meadows, and Moors, - - - - 109 

 Special Relations of Saprophytes to their 



Nutrient Substratum, - - - - 113 

 Plants with Traps and Pitfalls to ensnai-e 



Animals, - - - - - -119 



