PART III. 



PLANT MEMBERS IN RELATION TO ENVIRONMENT. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PLANT. 



I. Crganization of Plant Members.* 



689. It is now generally conceded that the earliest plants to 

 appear in the world were very simple in form and structure. 

 Perhaps the earliest were mere bits of naked protoplasm, not 



* Suggestions to the teacher, — In the studv of the flowering plants in the 

 secondary school and in elementary courses three general topics are sug- 

 gested, ist, the study of the form and members of the plant and their 

 arrangement, as in Chapters XXXVIII-XLV. 2d, the study of a few 

 plants representative of the more important families, in order that the 

 members of the plant, as studied under the first topic, may be seen in corre- 

 lation with the plant as a whole in a number of different types. 3d, the 

 study of plants in their relation to enxaronment, as in Chapter XLVI. 

 The first and second topics can be conducted consecutively in the class- 

 room and laboratory. The third topic can be studied at opportune times 

 during the progress of topics i and 2. For example, while studying topic i 

 excursions can be made to study winter conditions of buds, shoots, etc., 

 if in winter period, or the relations of leaves, etc., to environment, if in 

 the growing period. While stud\'ing topic 2 excursions can be made to 

 studv flower relations, and also vegetation relations to environment (see 

 Chapters XLVI-LVII of the author's "College Text-book of Botany"). 

 It is believed that a study of these three general topics is of much more 

 value to the beginning student than the ordinary plant analysis and deter- 

 mination of species. 



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