CONTENTS 



I'agb 



Preface ix 



To THE Student xvii 



CHAPTER I 



The Science of Botany 1 



The subdivisions of botany — The history of botany. 



CHAPTER II 



Introductory Survey 11 



The plant kingdom — The structures and functions of plants — The 

 root and its functions — The leaf and its functions — The stem and 

 its functions — ^The reproductive organs and their function — 

 Metabolic processes. 



CHAPTER III 



The Soil and Its Importance to Plants 23 



Rock particles — Water — Air — Organic matter — Dissolved sub- 

 stances — Organisms. 



CHAPTER IV 



The Root and Its Functions 40 



External structure — The absorbing region — The plant cell — 

 Internal structure of roots — Diffusion and osmosis — Diffusion 

 and osmosis in the plant cell — The absorption of Avater and salts — 

 Other osmotic phenomena in the plant — Other functions of the 

 root. 



CHAPTER V 



The Leaf and Its Functions 63 



The structure of the leaf — Photosynthesis — Transpiration. 



CHAPTER VI 



The Stem and Its Functions 88 



The external structure of the stem — The internal structure of the 

 stem — The structure of wood — The ascent of sap in stems — The 

 translocation of foods. 



CHAPTER VII 



Metabolism 117 



Plant foods — Digestion — Assimilation — Respiration, 

 xiii 



