FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



CHAPTER I. 



Introduction. 



THIS work has been undertaken for the purpose 

 of presenting in a popular form, devoid as much 

 as possible of technical language, some of the most 

 prominent features in the investigations which have 

 of late years contributed so much to our knowledge 

 of the phenomena of vegetable life. The labours 

 especially of Mr. Darwin in this direction deserve to 

 be more generally known than they are. Unfor- 

 tunately, the dread which non- scientific persons 

 exhibit at the outside of a scientific book often 

 prevents any attempt at understanding its contents. 

 Hence we have made an effort to summarise the 

 results of these and similar experiments, and to 

 present in as succinct a manner as the subjects 

 permitted, their teachings. Some elaborate investi- 

 gations, as, for instance, those on fertilisation, are 

 chiefly of interest to botanists, and could be little 

 understood or appreciated by the general public ; 



