M. C. STOPES. The University, Manchester, ~July 1906~. PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION The public and the critics have been so kind to the first edition of this book that I am encouraged to offer them a second. There are no considerable changes in it, but I have profited by some suggestions regarding points of detail which several friends have been good enough to offer, and hope that the book has now fewer blemishes, and will be more useful. In Chapter XXXIV. two interesting photographs of drowning trees have been added, which illustrate a problem in Ecology less generally studied than its converse. It has been very pleasant to hear from many teachers, some in distant parts of the earth, that the book has been useful to them, and I hope they will continue to allow me the privilege of their criticism or appreciation. M. C. STOPES The University, Manchester, ~October 1910~. ACKNOWLEDGMENT For the right to reproduce the photographs I am much indebted to the following gentlemen, to whom I express my warm thanks: viz. to the Rev. J. S. Lea, of Kirkby Lonsdale, for Plate VII. and fig. 149; to Prof. F. W. Oliver, of London, for Plate VI.; to Dr. O. V. Darbishire, of Manchester, for Plate IV. and fig. 130; to Prof. K. Fujii, of Tokio, for Plate III.; to Dr. F. F. Blackman, of Cambridge, for fig. 144; to Mr. Crump, of Halifax, for fig. 140; to Mr. R. Welch, of Belfast, for Plates I. and V., and fig. 138; to Dr. H. Bassett for figs. 154 and 155. To Dr. W. E. Hoyle of Manchester, and to Miss Mary McNicol, B.Sc., I am also much indebted for their kindness in reading the proof-sheets. I have drawn all the text illustrations specially for this book. M. C. S. CONTENTS PART I. THE LIFE OF THE PLANT CHAP. PAGE I. Introductory 1 II. Signs of Life 4 III. Seeds and Seedlings 8 IV. Food Materials of the Older Plant--1. In the Soil 14 V. Food Materials of the Older Plant--2. In the Air 18 VI. The Food Manufactured by the Plant 23 VII. The Circulation of Water 28 VIII. Light and its Influences 35 IX. Growth in Seedlings 40 X. Movement 45 Summary of Part I. 49 PART II. THE PARTS OF A PLANT’S BODY, AND THEIR USES XI. Roots 53 XII. Stems 58 XIII. Leaves 64 XIV. Buds 72 XV. Flowers 78 XVI. Fruits and Seeds 86 XVII. The Tissues Building up the Plant Body 92 PART III.