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concerning the mysteries of the root. Failures, if one can locate the cause of the trouble, are often quite as instructive as successes, but one is not always in a sufficiently philosophical frame of mind to get much consolation from this fact. Interesting magnified views of the developing tip and the wonderful root-cap may be obtained by growing plants in a vessel whose base contains an area of microscopical cover-glass, and photographing from beneath.
Next we consider the upward growth of the plant. Most seeds in their natural environment, after having been duly distributed, are exposed upon the ground for a considerable period, and by the action of wind, rain and frost frequently become covered with a more or less resistant layer of soil. As the young plant ascends its first task is to penetrate this covering and its method of accomplishing it is always worthy of investigation. The Iris, for instance, emerges with a sword-like sheath, the Runner bean forms a crook to pierce the soil, and the Sunflower uses its old seed-coat as a protective helmet.
The formation of the foliage-leaves next receives attention. Here outdoor conditions of light must be maintained otherwise the growth is abnormal. Early attempts under conditions of perpetual gloom were mere travesties of normal growth, the plants elongating with great rapidity, into long, anaemic-looking shoots, vainlv attempting to reach the much desired light. The leaves themselves generally show points of interest, particularly movements due to time of day and changes of weather, especially when considered in conjunction with the position of the breathing pores, tiny openings, known as stomata, whose activities are controlled by a system of hydraulic shutters.
The means by which the plant supports itself is worth investigation, either by the mechanical strength of its own structures or by the expedient of clinging to or twining round some unfortunate neighbour. The opening of the flower, and especially its intricate methods of ensuring the transference of the male pollen to the female organs of its own or a neighbouring plant are always thoroughly investigated. Insects often effect this transfer, and batches of plants have therefore to be grown where the suitable kinds of insects occur. The larger the mass of flowers one offers the greater the chance of inducing insects to visit them. At the same time, in order to obtain really useful results one must focus the camera on one particular flower and exercise patience. Naturally the larger the number of flowers the smaller the chance of any particular insect coming to the one selected. The persistence with which an insect will visit hundreds of « wrong » flowers, hour after hour, without coming to the « right » one often seems positively uncanny. Surprise has been expressed that one can tolerate with anything like equanimity, week after week, the nerve-racking gyrations of these winged tormentors, which, in unholy alliance with our erratic climate,