A GENERAL SURVEY 9 



by way of a description. In the case of some 

 of the smaller kinds of fungi it has been possible 

 to observe a definite sex method of repro- 

 duction. But so far as the larger number of 

 fungi which are likely to come under notice 

 are concerned, no trace of any sexual process 

 is to be discovered. 



The remaining groups of fiowerless plants 

 call for a passing reference, although they are 

 somewhat beyond the scope of the present 

 inquiry. In these days of popular science 

 almost everybody has heard about the bacteria. 

 The place which these minute organisms occupied 

 in the natural order of things was for long in 

 dispute. They have even been classed as 

 animals, but there is no longer any doubt that 

 the bacteria are plants, and it is generally 

 considered that they are related to the fungi. 

 That bacteria play an important part in con- 

 nection with disease is well known. It is not, 

 perhaps, so generally recognised that many 

 kinds act in a manner which is extremely 

 beneficial to the human race. It is the bacteria 

 which live in the nodules on the roots of bean 

 and pea plants, and so enable these crops to 

 draw upon the vast store of free nitrogen in 



