2So DISEASE IN PLANTS. 



detected in the behaviour of the nuclear-proto- 

 plasm the essential material in the reproductive 

 organs and reproductive process. At least we 

 must infer that no change has been permanently 

 stamped on this nucleo-plasm from such facts 

 as the characters of the seedlings of the progeny 

 of the plain-raised plants : if they are again sown 

 in an alpine situation they forthwith behave again 

 as alpines. 



Must we not conclude, then, that this difficulty 

 of reaching the nuclear-protoplasm is owing to the 

 fact that it is nourished and influenced directly 

 only by the cell-protoplasm? That the cell-proto- 

 plasm is its environment, and not so directly the 

 outer world ? We may influence the cell-proto- 

 plasm we may make it work harder or less 

 actively, respire vigorously or slowly, build up 

 and break down in various different ways, or at 

 different rates, and so forth, witJiin Hunts ; but 

 it is nevertheless cell-protoplasm of its specific 

 kind, with its own range of molecular variations 

 and activities within these limits, and it supplies 

 the nuclear-protoplasm with what it wants so long 

 as these limits are not exceeded. Consequently, 

 while it is very easy to make the cell- protoplasm 

 vary within the limits of its range, it is not easy 

 to induce it to vary its effects on the nuclear- 

 protoplasm to such an extent or in such a way 

 that the latter is permanently or materially 

 altered in constitution. 



Nevertheless it would appear that cases do 

 occur where the nuclear-protoplasm is reached and 



