PREFACE 



THE germination of plants is certainly not the least interesting 

 portion of their life-history, but it has not as yet attracted the 

 attention it deserves. The forms of cotyledons, and the fact 

 that they differ so much from the subsequent leaves, had 

 of course been alluded to more or less fully in botanical works, 

 but no explanation had been offered, and KLEBS l in a recent 

 memoir expressly states that the problem is still an enigma. 



Under these circumstances it seemed to me that the sub- 

 ject was very promising, and it was evident that Kew would 

 afford unrivalled opportunities for such an investigation. I 

 applied, therefore, to Sir JOSEPH HOOKER, and I cannot too 

 cordially thank him, as well as his successor, Mr. THISELTON 

 DYER, and indeed the whole of the staff, for the facilities they 

 have offered me, and for their valuable assistance in many ways. 



I have also to thank Mr. CARRUTHERS and the Trustees 

 of the British Museum, Mr. LYNCH and the authorities of 

 the Cambridge Botanic Gardens, and other friends, especially 

 Mr. HANBURY, for the gift or loan of many rare or interesting 



1 Bcitr. zur Morphologic u. Biologic der Kcimung : ' Im Allgemeinen sind 

 uns diese Verschiedenheiten in den Blattformen hinsichtlich ihrer hiologischen 

 Bedeutung f iir die Pflanze ein Eathsel.' Untersuch. Bot. Instit. zu Tubingen 

 1 84. 



