C N T E ]N^ T S. 



Pkkiace. 



Page. 

 I. — Science xyn Piiilosopht - - - - 15 



Definitions of Science and Philosophy by different authors 

 — Discussion regarding their meaning — Endeavour to come 

 to some popular definition of them. 



II. — Why do we study Pla:xt Life ? - - - - 31 



To learn the "svays of the Deity — To benefit ourselves and 





Others — Because nature forces us to do so. 



III. — Variatiox . - _ - . 



Examples of variation on the same plant — Is variation solely 



dependent on che conjugation of sperm and germ cells ? 



— Do the surroundings play a^y part in the creation of 



variations ? — Other factors of variation. 



lY. — Natural Selection _ . _ - . 



Views of Prof. Weismann — Further explanations to help the 

 general reader to grasp this theory — Main factors in the 

 direction of gro^^'th — Elasticity of organs — Does human 

 intelligence follow the same la^rs of natural selection ? — 

 Why man has been able to outrun every other animal in the 

 race of life. 



V. — Some Eactoes of Modification in Plants 



Sexual conjugation — Surroundings, a necessary factor of 

 modification — Climate and soil — Fusion — Fission — Trans- 

 position of segments — Abortion — Enlargement — Suppression 

 of parts — Persistent organs with altered function. 



VI. — Colour ---.__, 



The result of chemical combinations, brought about by elec- 

 trical mfluence. 



YIl. — Evolution - . - _ , 



A method of creation — Probable order of evolution in plants- 

 Are all organs of plants new creations, or simply derivatives ? 

 — Is there any essential difference between vegetative and 

 reproductive cells ; between male and female cells ? — Plants 

 follow roughly crystalline forms — Seaweeds, the progenitors 

 of all land plants — Transition from sea plants to land plants 

 — The embryo of text-books — Horticulturists, in adapting 

 and selecting plants, act as nature does — Some examples of 

 transition in seaweeds — In certain seaweeds no need of dif- 

 ferentiation into root, stem, and leaf. 



35 



57 



89 



,.L.W YORK 

 93OTANICAL 

 GARDEN 



A p. 1724. 



a 2 



