CONTENTS 



CHAP. PAGE 



INTRODUCTION xv 



I. WHAT A TREE is i 



The Advantages of Botanical Knowledge Botanical 

 Terms and their Uncouthness A Tree and its Parts Its 

 Minute Structure Protoplasm The Cell Its Growth 

 and Mode of Division Explained insufficiently Division 

 of Labour in the Tree Cell Co-operation. 



II. THE SOIL . ... 6 



Its Formation Beginnings of Vegetation on the Earth 

 A Barren Soil Deposition of Volcanic Dust Weather- 

 ing of Rocks to form Soil Composition of the Earth's 

 Crust Replenishing of Plant -food in Soil The 

 Soil's Capillary Action on Water Four Classes of 

 Soils Light, Sandy or Gravelly Soils Loams Humus 

 Soils Clay Soils, their Stiffness and Heaviness How to 

 Improve them Their Extreme Fineness, and Methods 

 of Flocculation The Use of Lime Richness of Sub- 

 soils Soil-burning Poisonous Excretions by Roots 

 Need of Cultivation. 



III. BACTERIA, OR SOIL FLORA, AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP 



TO SOIL FERTILITY . . . . . . . 17 



Bacteria essential to the Existence of Rubber Trees 

 Necessity for Studying them Importance and Omni- 

 presence in Surface-soil Rate of Multiplication and 

 Sizes Four Important Classes Needs of Soil Bacteria 

 A Measure of their Activity Bacteria in Leguminous 

 Root Nodules The Fermentation Process Methods of 

 Encouraging Bacterial Action : Lime Draining 

 Cultivation. 



IV. THE SEED AND ITS FERTILIZATION .... 26 



The Flowers, Male and Female Fertilization Ger- 

 mination of Seed The Mode of their Dispersion 

 Their Vitality Seed Oils. 



V. THE ROOTS OF THE HEVEA 31 



The Search of Roots for Water Lateral Roots Tap- 

 root Root-hairs, Action on Soil Particles Need of 

 Roots for Space and Air Conditions encouraging Root 

 Fungi Absorption of Water and Mineral Food by 

 Roots Part played by Leaves in Water Current 

 Current in Stem. 



VI. THE STEM 36 



Its Layers Our Attitude in Explaining Life A Tree 

 as a Complex Organism As illustrated by the Food 

 Passages and Storehouses in the Stem Cells as Co- 

 operators and their Powers as Manufacturers Structure 

 and Functions of the Various Stem Layers Heart-wood 

 Sap-wood Cambium Latex- bearing Layers Bark 

 Proper. 



524 



