1895.] Development of Vegetable Physiology. 389 
study of the cell, including both its reproductive and vegeta- 
tive aspects, in so far as they may be considered the nascent 
functions of the elementary parts of the organisms, may be 
conveniently considered under a single heading, ‘‘caliology.” 
Passing to the physiology of the adult organism, a little 
reflection will show that the activities of the plant may be 
considered from two standpoints: that of the plant’s individual 
economy, and thatof the plant’s social economy, or its relation 
to other plants and animals and the world at large. Looking 
at the latter phase more closely, we shall find that the sub- 
ject contains some of the most interesting topics in the range 
of botany, which appeal especially to the lover of nature, 
without losing their value as problems of the deepest scien- 
tific import. Among the relations of plants to the world at 
large may be mentioned the influence of climate, the means 
of protection against rain, drouth, and cold, adaptation to 
the medium in which the plant grows, and the establishment 
of rhythmical periods. Among the relations of plants to 
animals are those interesting chapters in the fertilization of 
flowers by insects, the contrivances by which plants with a 
predilection for highly nitrogenous food may capture and feed 
upon insects, and the means adopted by plants to prevent 
injury from large animals, which are more or less familiar to 
the general public through the writings of Charles Darwin. 
Among the relations of plants to one another comes foremost 
the struggle for existence, bringing into play the laws of nat- 
ural selection and the survival of the fittest, together with 
much else that is now known under the head of evolution, 
followed by various phases of parasitism, mutualism, and other 
topics. Is it not evident from this hasty and by no means 
complete outline that here is a portion of physiology which 
appeals to all classes of thoughtful persons, rich in possibil- 
ities for the philosophical and speculative mind, and bristling 
with queries demanding experimental solution? 
Although this department of physiology has received much 
attention here and there for a long time, and some ofits top- 
ics are well understood, yet only very recently has it fallen 
into place as a systematic part of the general subject, and no 
Separate presentation of it has yet appeared in English, and 
only two works in German. There is some confusion regard- 
ing the name of the science. The Germans call it ‘‘biology,” 
which may serve to emphasize the importance of regarding 
