1] MICROSCOPIC PLANTS. 3 
plasm secreting fresh deposits of it. Some of the 
specimens, you will notice, are coloured green, some 
red, and others parti-coloured. This is owing to cer- 
tain portions or granules of the protoplasm being 
covered with a peculiar pigment called chlorophyll 
(leaf-colour), which is either green or red. The cell- 
wall itself, though seemingly coloured, is colourless, 
If we examine a number of these with our micro- 
scopes we shall probably be able to observe the 
manner in which the plant is increased, for it does 
not produce seeds like flowering plants. The alter- 
native plan adopted by the gardener to increase his 
stock of plants is to take cuttings from them, and we 
find that a somewhat similar process goes on in this 
Protococcus, for it divides itself into two parts, and 
then again into four. This cut will show you how 
it is done. A partition forms 
across the protoplasm, and thus © q 
two cells are formed inside the Lag 
old cell-wall; these two cells d 2.--@) 
divide in the same manner, 3s ce & 
and the old cell-wall bursts, a®, 
setting free four perfect proto- 
cocct. Sometimes, though rarely, 
a little protuberance or swelling is formed at one 
part of the plant, and, gradually increasing in size, 
assumes a round form, and ultimately becomes sepa- 
rated from the parent cell. At times a remarkable 
change takes place in this plant. The protoplasm 
penetrates the cell-wall at two points, and protrudes 
in the form of two long, slender filaments (cz/za), 
which, being kept constantly moving, propel the 
