PRKSIDKNT S ADDRKSS. XI 



the system of Endlic-lior, wliicli is inucii less simple and is 

 burdened with a cumbrous nomenclature, has been followed 

 until recently. A new system is now m vogue, which is intro- 

 ditced into some of the class books published in this country. 

 Such is a slight sketch of the natural system of classilication ; 

 it possesses difficulties sufficient to attract the highest intellects, 

 but anyone may obtain sufficient knowledge of it for the study 

 of this branch of the science. As a sequence to this part of the 

 subject i had intended to say something of the riches, the 

 wonders, and the oddities of the vegetable world, but time 

 obliges me to pass on. 



" Stones grow, plants grow and live, animals grow, live, and 

 feel." This is an ancient generalisation, but it hardly goes far 

 enough, as some plants appear to feel after a fashion, even if 

 they do not think. At present we have to concern ourselves 

 with their lives in general. Every observer is acquainted with 

 the external aspects of vegetable life. Heat and moisture are 

 required for the germination of the seed, sunlight for the pro- 

 duction of the leaves, flowers, and fruit. For the performance 

 of the various functions of life a number of organs are necessary, 

 and the differentiation during growth resulting in the formation 

 of these various organs is termed vegetable Morphology, whilst 

 the movements of sap, water, air, &c., and the chemical changes 

 that take place in plants are considered under the designation of 

 vegetable Physiology. From the time of Ai-istotle to that of Ray 

 little was done in this branch of the work. Ray made, amongst 

 other experiments, some on the flowing of sap. Cffisalpinus had 

 also worked in the same direction. Henceforward the study 

 of the life of plants advanced rapidly, but it is chiefly German 

 Botanists of recent date who have advanced this part of 

 the science. One of their countrymen says that the Germans 

 have mostly concerned themselves with exact knowledge, rather 

 than the discovery of general biological laws ; and it was not a 

 Botanist, but the poet Goethe, who, in his " Metamorphosis 

 of Plants," struck out a new path. He there shows that the 

 various parts of flowers are truly modifications of foliage leaves. 



