H Glimpse of the Life of Chloropbyllous 
Plants. 
By James O’Suttivan, F.I.C., F.C.S. 
Presidential Address, delivered November 16th, 1899. 
NYONE ttolerably acquainted with the physiology 
of green, or chlorophyllous plants, knows of the 
vastness of the subject, and, consequently, will find that in 
my attempt to give a glimpse of their life I do not treat 
the questions which come under consideration in anything 
like a thorough manner. 
A seed, a fully developed seed, collected from the plant 
on which it has grown is to all appearance dead, dead as 
an oak tree appears to be in the winter of our climate, and, 
unfortunately, we have no means of saying for certain that 
if it is set it will germinate. When a healthy seed is set, 
and the conditions favourable for its germination are present, 
it will germinate; if unhealthy, it will rot, and it becomes a 
prey to the scavengers of life—microscopic plants. The 
favourable conditions are moisture, air, and heat, and if 
these are present, in suitable proportions, light will not be 
required as long as there is material in the seed for the 
a 
