CONTENTS OF VOLUME FIRST. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The Study of Plants in Ancient 

 and in Modern Times. 



Plants considered from the point of view 



of Utility, ---... 



The Description and Classification of Plants, 



Page | 



Doctrine of Metamorphosis and Speculations 



of Nature-Philosophy, - 

 Scientific Method based on the History of 



Development, - 

 Objects of Botanical Research at the present 



day, 



Page 



7 



13 

 15 



THE LIVING PRINCIPLE IN PLANTS. 



1. Protoplasts considered as the Seat 

 of Life. 



Discovery of the Cell: Eesearches of Swam- 



merdam, Leeuwenhoek, and Unger, - 21 

 Discovery of Protoplasm, - - - - 25 



2. Movements of Protoplasts. 



Swimming and Creeping Protoplasts, - - 28 

 Movements of Protoplasm in Cell-cavities, - 32 

 Movements of Simple Organisms — Volvo- 

 cinese, Diatomacese, Oscillarias, and 

 Bacteria, ------ 37 



3. Secretions and Constructive Activity 

 of Protoplasts. 



Cell-sap : Cell-nucleus : Chlorophyll-bodies : 



Starch: Crystals, - - - - 41 



Construction of the Cell-wall and establish- 

 ment of Connections between neigh- 

 bouring Cell-cavities, - 42 



4. Communication of Protoplasts with one 

 another and with the outer world. 



The Transmission of Stimuli and the Specific 



Constitution of Protoplasm, - - - 47 

 Vital Force, Instinct, and Sensation, - - 51 



ABSORPTION OF NUTRIMENT. 



1. Introduction. 



Classification of Plants, with reference to 



Nutrition, ------ 55 



Theory of Pood-Absorption, - - - 57 



2. Absorption of Inorganic Substances. 



Nutrient Gases, 60 



Nutrient Salts, ------ 66 



Absorption of Food-salts by Water-plants, - 75 



Absorption of Food-salts by Lithophytes, - 79 



Absorption of Food-salts by Land-plants, - 82 

 Relations of the Position of Foliage-leaves 



to that of Absorbent Roots, - - 92 



3. Absorption of Organic Matter from 

 Decaying Plants and Animals. 



Saprophytes and their Relation to Decaying 



Bodies, ------ 99 



Saprophytes in Water, on the Bark of Trees, 



and on Rocks. - - - .- - 104 

 Saprophytes in the Humus of Woods, 



Meadows, and Moors, - 109 



Special Relations of Saprophytes to their 



Nutrient Substratum, - - - - 1 1 3 

 Plants with Traps and Pitfalls to ensnare 



Animals, - - - - - -119 



