216 FLOWERS AND FOLKS. 
in hiding, as one might say, in the shadow 
of its taller and showier neighbors. Not far 
off, but a little more within the wood, were 
patches of the linnza, which had been at its 
prettiest in June, but even now, in late Sep- 
tember, was still putting forth scattered blos- 
soms. What should a man do? Discard 
the golden-rod for the gentian, and in turn 
forsake the gentian for the twin - flower? 
Nay, a child might do that, but not a man; 
for the three were all beautiful and all in- 
teresting, and each the more beautiful and 
interesting for its unlikeness to the others. 
If one wishes a stiff lesson in classification, 
there are few harder genera (among flower- 
ing plants) than Solidago ; if he would in- 
vestigate the timely and taking question of 
the dependence of plants upon insects, this 
humble “proterandrous”’ gentian (which to 
human vision seems closed, but which the 
humble-bee knows well how to enter) offers 
him a favorable subject; while if he has an 
eye for beauty, a nose for delicate fragrance, 
and a soul for poetry, the linnza will never 
cease to be one of his prime favorites. So 
I say again, let us have variety. It would 
be a stupid town all whose inhabitants should 
