MICROSCOPIC PLANTS. 



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 

 two cells are formed inside the 

 old cell-wall; these two cells 

 divide in the same manner, 

 and the old cell -wall bursts, () 



setting free four perfect proto- FIG r 



cocci. 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 (cilia), 

 which, being kept constantly moving, propel the 



