THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 109 



and to them the designer can well resort for original, strik' 

 ing and exquisite patterns. Forms of these can be found 

 in nearly every stream or pond. Moreover, the botanist, 

 who has been at all active in collecting in the warm 

 months, has on hand in winter a store of material for 

 investigation or arrangement. 



It is sometimes said that the love of nature is inherent. 

 To those w^ho advance this view, it is sufficient to call 

 attention to the manifestations of window-gardens, and 

 of back-yard cultivation among the very poor. Where, it 

 is said, is the hovel or slum, too squalid to reveal the 

 struggling flower in broken pot or cracked water-pitcher?, 

 While such displays are assuredly frequent and speak well 

 for humanity at large, it is no doubt a fact that real 

 nature-love, never to be mistaken when met with, is an 

 inborn faculty. Like poetry or art, it comes with the 

 breath of life. Often it is sporadic and sudden in develop-^ 

 ment. There are many that possess it not at all or to a 

 slight degree only, To a few poor souls a stately tree is 

 but so many feet of timber, Niagara (alas!) so much 

 wasted power; an exquisite flower, something colored — 

 a primrose "and nothing more." Upon such, form, colory 

 design, all are lost, for them 



"No minstrel raptures swell." 



At the same time it may be said, that of these, even 

 the dullest and least appreciative possess the germ o^ 

 something better, and may be benefitted by example* 

 Given but a slight spark indicating an admiration of the 

 beautiful, it may be fostered, cultivated and caused event- 

 ually to illumine the individual and his household. 



An experience of many 3^ears has proved to the satis- 

 faction of the writer, that w^hile alarge number of persons 

 are influenced merely by charm of form or color, there is 

 an increasing number, under the incentive of recent teach- 

 ing of design or science, who evince intense delight in 

 learning the habits, peculiarities, adaptations and uses of 

 plants; in short, how the3^ live. The extraordinary 

 manifestations of design in nature, the myriad exhibition^ 



