CO]^TENTS OF VOLUME FIRST. 



The Study or Plants in Ancient 

 AND IN Modern Times. 



Plants considered from the point of view 



of Utility, 



The Description and Classification of Plants, 



INTEODUCTION. 



Page I 



Page 



Doctrine of Metamorphosis and Speculations 



of Nature-Philosophy, - - . - 7 



Scientific Method based on the History of 



Development, - - - - - 13 



Objects of Botanical Research at the present 



day, 16 



THE LIVING PEINCIPLE IN PLANTS. 



1. Protoplasts considered as the Seat 

 OF Life. 



Discovery of the Cell: Researches 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- 

 cineas, Diatomaceee, Oscillariae, and 

 Bacteria, ------ 37 



3. Secretions and Constructive Activitt 

 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 NUTEIMENT. 



1. Introduction. 



Classification of Plants, with reference to 



Nutrition, ------ 55 



Theory of Food-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 Decavine 



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, - - - - 113 

 Plants with Traps and Pitfalls to ensnare 



Animals, - - - - - - 119 



