VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. 
Itrgrtntil]; ^c^ljifsinlng!|. 
By ARTHUE HENFEEY, Esq., F.L.S., Lecturer on Botany at St. George's Hospital. 
Introductory. 
^CT Y object in the series of papers I propose to offer to the readers of this Magazine, is, to give a simple 
SUiv and plain continuous \iew of the principles of Vegetable Physiology, so far as they have been 
clearly ascertained at the present time, and to explain and illustrate these by allusions to familiar and 
practical instances, so that general readers, and gardeners in particular, may draw, fi'om an attentive 
consideration of the facts and laws laid before them, a groundwork for practical observation and 
experiment. 
I do not intend to vrrite what is very often written under the name of " Popular Science," but rather 
aim at fm-nisliing common sense views, as foimdedupon facts which are open to the investigation of all. 
On no subject has more misconception arisen than on this " Popular Science," by which many understand 
vague generahties di-essed up in an amusing form, and seasoned with anecdotes, which, interesting in 
themselves, often have no important bearing on the subject in hand. It may be well to sketch out, 
briefly, what I consider to be the relative jiosition of science, properly so-called, to the business of life, 
or to particular arts, such as gardening or agricultm'e. 
The first men of science were persons who inquired more narrowly than their fellows into the pro- 
ceedings which they saw going on around them, and into the meaning of the operations which they them- 
selves performed. They began to describe these, and to search for causes. Their next followers had the 
advantage of their written experience to guide and assist in new observations ; so that, after a time, 
certain general principles began to be perceived, and what are called laws were discovered. The modern 
student of science has, in like manner, the recorded experience of those who preceded him to examine 
and master, before he can place liimself in a position to advance his subject ; and, in addition to the 
ascertained facts and laws, he always will find, in the present condition of science, a mass of imperfect 
knowledge, consisting of half-examined phenomena, speculative theories, and the like, which cannot, 
for the time, be tui-ned to practical account. Thus, the professed scientific inquirer is to be looked upon 
as the pioneer of knowledge, engaged in clearing a way thi'ough unexplored regions, making efforts — 
often, very often, fruitless — to attain to new points, fi'om whence he may sm'vey new regions of know- 
ledge ; and, in these incm-sions into the realm of the milmown, making acquaintance with many tilings 
which cannot, lilie the relations of a traveller, be told as a simple tale ; but must, from their novelty, 
the partial view he has had of them, and their apparently complicated connection with each other, 
remain a vague and unsatisfactory subject of inquiry to the general public, until a more complete 
knowledge allows of the formation of clear charts, accui-ate measm-ements, and plain descriptions, by 
means of which, high roads and safe routes might be opened across the tract, and the whole be re- 
claimed within the territory of established knowledge. 
For this is precisely the land of process that takes place. The theories of science of one generation 
become the accepted facts of common sense in the next ; and, as the public mind becomes familiar with 
the new objects and the new laws, the new words by wMch they are denominated are gradually 
brought into common language. Let no one, therefore, quarrel with scientific men, that they do not 
explain all they know in popular language — popular language has no words to express, without long 
and tedious cii-cmnlocution, much that is familiar to the advanced student of a scientific subject; and 
it would be as absm-d to deny to him the convenience of fixed brief terms (scientific short-hand, in 
fact) to express his thoughts to lus fellow-worker, as to deny to the mechanic a proper technical name 
for his tools. Scientific men — that is, the truly scientific — invent words to facilitate, not to obstruct, the 
progi'ess of science. There may be, and, indeed, is occasionally, an abuse of this privilege ; but it is an 
indispensable one. 
In essays like the present, which aimatbruiging new stores of knowledge into the domain of the common 
sense of the general public, the main object to be kept in view is to confine oneself to so much of the subject 
as is susceptible of being cleai-ly and simply explained, leaving on one side those uncertain points, which, 
until they have been worked out much farther by scientific investigation, cannot be applied to practi- 
cal purposes ; and this I would rather call diffusing useful knoivlech/c, than teaching popular science, 
which is commonly supposed to be capable of conveying useful instruction, without any pains on the 
(^ part of the receiver. Nothing that is worth having is to be obtained for nothing; but much may be ^ 
done in facilitating the acquirement of knowledge, as in the attainment of all other things, by the 
