30 CUMPSES IXTO I'LAXT-LIFE 



I stand as it were only on the threshold of 

 scientific research, and look with wonder at the 

 work of such a student as Darwin, who gave 

 twenty long years to observation of the common 

 earth-worm before he wrote his deeply interesting 

 book upon it. Again, we see Sir John Lubbock 

 giving years of his life to the growing of seeds 

 and their seed leaves, in order to learn exactly 

 how plants begin their life, and two very thick 

 volumes are required to contain the vast amount 

 of information he has thus obtained. 



These two examples will suffice to show that 

 the minutest objects in nature are worthy of 

 reverent attention, and if these chapters tend to 

 awaken young peoi)le to a perception of this 

 fact and act as a humble guide to new lines 

 of thought, I shall feel that they have not been 

 written in vain. 



I fear it is impossible to cx[^lain the processes 

 nature is carrying on in the plant-world without 

 occasionally using scientific words, but, when I 

 am obliged to do so I shall try to explain their 

 meaning/ and when once we rightly understand 



' Sec glossary at llic end of the liook. 



