BOTANY. 
CHAPTER I. 
PROTOPLASM AND PLANT-CELLS. 
1. Protoplasm.—The living part of every. plant is a soft- 
ish, almost transparent substance called protoplasm. It 
may be seen in ordinary plants by making thin slices of 
the rapidly growing parts, and then magnifying them 
under a good microscope. Such a 
specimen is made up almost wholly of 
protoplasm. (Fig. 1.) 
2. Although protoplasm is so abun- 
dant, its exact chemical composition is 
not known. It appears to be a mix- 
ture of several chemical compounds, 
and contains carbon, hydrogen, oxy- 
gen, nitrogen, sulphur, besides others 
of less importance. Nitrogen is al- =| 
ways present. | 
8. When protoplasm is examined 
under a high magnifying power it 
s Fia. 1.—A few young cells 
generally appears to be somewhat from the root of crown Ins 
A erial, showing protoplasm 
granular. There may often be dis- tp), vacuoles (s), and thin 
cell-walls (h). Magnified 550 
tinguished a clear transparent non- times. 
granular part making up the body of the protoplasm, and 
in this the granules are imbedded. 
