196 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
and in rainy weather, and the season of flowering. Other means 
are at the same time intended for protection against the attacks 
of animals, birds and insects, or serve as adaptations for attracting 
and aiding insects in performing fertilisation, &c., a subject on 
which several books have been written, and which is far too compre 
hensive to be more than hinted at here. 
Tn connection with this, I may mention that plants are by nume- 
rous means protected against the attacks of animals, birds and 
insects ; but these being of lesser importance for the distribution 
of plants, may be omitted here, 
By a closer observation of the facts of which I have pointed out a 
few of the most striking, I think we will arrive at the following 
conclusion :—“ That the distribution of plants greatly depends upon 
their capability of adapting themselves to a particular climate, 
upon their means of protection, and upon their adoption of new 
habits under altered circumstances.” 
The next condition for the distribution of plants is the natural 
quality of the soil, which is in a few cases of importance. I beg you 
to remark, that I say a few cases, because the popular conception, or 
rather deception, is that the quality of the soil is almost everything 
for the successful growth of plants. With regard to a few plants 
possessing a particular quality of extracting prepared food from the 
ground, it is no doubt trae, but the rule is that only the physical 
condition and not the chemical composition of the soil is of importance, 
as it has been amply proved that plants derive by far the greatest, 
amount of nourishment from the air, and that the few mineral sub- 
stances that are actually necessary for the growth of plants are 
nearly always present in sufficient quantities in any kind of soil, 
We may therefore conclude that the quality of the soil is very in- 
significant with regard to the distribution of plants, and when at all 
of importance, may be partly attributed to climatic agencies, 
Tt is however not sufficient that climate and soil offer favourable 
conditions for the growth of plants ; their distribution will also 
depend upon the perfect development of their flowers and fruits ; or 
upon a satisfactorily performed fertilisation; unless the plants possess 
other means of distribution than seeds. Fertilisation is not always 
the result of a favourable climate, but is frequently caused by the’ 
presence of a particular insect or plant.” It is well known that: 
the Vanilla grows luxuriantly and) flowers freely in India, but. 
also that it uever seeds, except when artificially fertilised, a fact 
