The Various Ways in Which Plants Appeal 15 



or as the daily newspaper is an epitomized expression of the doings 

 of civilization. And this I mean not as a metaphor, but as a 

 serious scientific hypothesis. 



This discussion of adaptation and kindred matters, and per- 

 haps some others of the matters contained in this chapter, will 

 have little meaning, I know, to the reader who may be making 

 his first acquaintance with plant life through this book. But I 

 venture to hope that the case will be different after he has made 

 some study of the pages which follow. Perhaps I should earlier 

 have advised him to read this chapter the last; and at least I do 

 now suggest that he read it again after he has finished the rest 

 of the book. 



