30 



seems likely that preparation has already been made for the coming 

 expenditure of force in the spring ; and if we were able to calculate 

 the total amount of dry material contained in a tree in the autumn^ 

 and contrast it with the percentage of this substance in the budding 

 or in the leafy branch, it would probably be found that there had 

 been some loss of substance, due to the molecular energy expended 

 in pushing forward the buds and leaves. When and where the 

 storage takes place cannot now be stated with exactitude, but from 

 the analogy that exists between the germination and budding of 

 plants I cannot but think that, in addition to the stimulus of the 

 food afforded by the rising of the sap in the spring, there is also 

 some liberation of energy from material that had been previously 

 stored up, in anticipation of a revival of spring. It is important to 

 note in this regard that the same kind of combustion of hydrocarbons 

 by oxygen as goes on in germinating seeds, takes place in other 

 parts of the plant where active processes are going on, as during 

 inflorescence, and in the spadix of Arum at the time of fertilization. 

 In all these cases, as in seeds, there is a distinct rise of 

 temperature. 



This mode of considering the subject at least adds interest to 

 our contemplation of vegetable nature in the winter months. 

 Instead of looking upon the trees with their bare branches as 

 organisms in a state of torpor, we may speculate upon the amount 

 of latent force that they possess, and may regard them as really 

 more powerful and richer than when they parade in summer finery. 



I would suggest this subject as one well worthy of the 

 attention of some of our younger members. It would not be 

 difficult to make the requisite experiments, and I imagine that it 

 might have an important bearing upon some point in woodcraft. 



Many other instances of the accumulation of material for the 

 future well-being of plants might be mentioned, though they are 

 often complicated v^dth other subjects. Thus the collection of 

 honey in the nectaries, the fragant essential oils in the glands of 

 petals and leaves, the brilliant colouring matters in corolla and 

 calyx, and even in som.e leaves, all these have been stored up so as 

 to assist in the cross-fertilization of plants by insects. I would claim 

 these as, in some sense, examples of provision for the future 

 maintenance of the species. Again, many of the devices used for the 

 dispersion and for the most suitable disposal of seeds, and for their 

 preservation until they can reach their most favourable soil — many, 

 if not all, of these may be properly adduced as instances of the 

 general principle with which v/e are dealing to-night. I would not, 

 however, lay too great stress upon them, as otherwise I might be 

 accused of claim.ing all the other wonderful adaptations of structure 

 to environment as "fish for my net." 



But there is one interesting point that I would mention with 

 regard to the preservation of fruits until the fitting time has come 

 for their destruction. I allude to the mode in which the attacks of 

 insect- and other animals are warded off, until the seeds that fruits 



