2 THE STOCKFEEDER'S COMPANION 



commence once again the same cycle of changes. 

 This round is continually going on, and is daily 

 revealing the wonderful power that exists in every 

 green plant that possesses life, of utilising such unlikely 

 materials as soil and air to build up food material 

 for the Animal Kingdom. 



Relation of Plants to the Animal Kingdom. All 

 living things can be divided into two groups, viz. : (i) 

 Animals and (2) Plants. As we study the lowest forms 

 in each kingdom, the differences become smaller and 

 smaller, until we arrive at a point close to the dividing 

 line between these two kingdoms, where it is difficult 

 to say whether a certain living thing belongs to the 

 Animal or the Vegetable Kingdom. 



All these living things have something in common, 

 inasmuch as they are composed of small cells con- 

 taining a jelly-like substance called protoplasm or 

 "living matter." The latter term is very expressive, 

 because without this substance there cannot, so far as 

 we know at present, be any life. Living things gener- 

 ally have the power of reproduction; and in order to 

 maintain their bodies and increase in size, it is necessary 

 for them to receive nutriment in some form or other. 



The higher forms of plants (e.g.) wheat, beans, etc.), 

 however, differ from the higher animals (e.g., horses, 

 cattle, sheep, etc.), in the following respects : 



Animals. Plants. 



1. Cell walls composed of albu- Cell wall composed of cellulose. 



minous substance. 



2. Interior of cell filled with Interior of older cells not 



protoplasm. entirely filled with proto- 



plasm. 



3. Have powers of locomotion. Generally fixed to the soil by 



roots. 



