COMPENDIUM OF GENERAL BOTANY. 



DIVISIONS OF SCIENTIFIC BOTANY AND GENERAL 

 CONSIDERATIONS. 



The two domains of plant study are Morphology and Physi- 

 ology. 



3forphology treats of the suhstance of the vegetable kingdom. 

 Physiology treats of the forces or energies bound up with the 

 plant-snbstance or which manifest themselves with it. Plant-func- 

 tions, as we know them in the light of morphology and physiology, 

 are not only proper adjustments to the environment, but above all 

 fulfill the requirements of plant-life and are therefore life-func- 

 tions. To define the term life., even only in its application to the 

 plant kingdom, is impossible. Science can, however, proceed more 

 and more into the order of things, to know more clearly the prop- 

 erties of matter and the harmonious manifestations of force. In 

 spite of this progress we cannot approach any nearer the solution 

 of the "life-problem." Processes of a chemical and physical nature 

 are the most that we are able to see in this order of things and 

 this knowledge distinguishes the scientist from the layman who sees 

 the order less clearly. The earnest investigator who has concluded to 

 believe by faith finds the answer to the "why" of this order in the 

 words " wonder of creation." To the one who is not so inclined 

 this " why " becomes a darkness which grows denser in propor- 

 tion as he sees more clearly the order in which chemical and 

 physical processes are combined as they are in plant-^//d. Life 

 manifests itself in certain chemical and physical processes, and in 

 so far as physics and cbemistry are concerned in life-processes there 

 is a " physics and chemistry of plant-life." Plant-physiology may 

 be designated by the expression " physics and chemistry of plant- 



