TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH 

 EDITION 



I HAVE been prompted to undertake a translation of Professor Jost's 

 Vorlesungen iiber Pflanzenphysiologie by the desire to see made available 

 for English-speaking students a critical modern exposition of so important 

 and progressive a subject, moderate in size, adequately full in detail, and 

 written in a lucid and interesting manner by a teacher of Dr. Jost's rank 

 and experience. 



I have not attempted to ' edit ' Dr. Jost's pages in any way, feeling 

 that the author should be allowed to speak for himself without comments 

 and interpolations on the part of his translator. Such additions to and 

 alterations in the German edition as have been made are from Dr. Jost's 

 own pen, and are indicated, as he has said, by enclosure within square 

 brackets. At the Author's request, I have endeavoured to translate the 

 German text as Uterally as was possible without, I hope, unduly offending 

 against the rules and idioms of the English language. Under the circum- 

 stances, of course, it will be readily understood that absence of critical 

 comment does not signify concurrence with every view put forward by 

 the Author, or complete acquiescence in his mode of treatment of every 

 subject. 



I have to acknowledge my indebtedness and to offer my grateful 

 thanks to several friends who have aided me in matters of interpretation 

 or expression, but more especially to Professor I. Bayley Balfour, F.R.S., 

 who has been so kind as to look through the proof-sheets, and to furnish 

 me with many valuable suggestions and criticisms. I am also indebted 

 to my colleague, Dr. A. W. Titherley, for much help in the interpretation 

 of the German names for organic and inorganic chemical compounds. 



R. J. H. G. 



Liverpool, 1907. 



