1 78 SAGACITY AND MORALITY OF PLANTS. 



character as the small flowers of the Umbelliferae 

 and the Compositse in the floral world. " Union 

 is strength " is their motto. Separately, birds would 

 no more see such minute fruits than insects would 

 be attracted by the small solitary floret of a Daisy, 

 or the hardly larger flower from an umbel of the 

 wild Carrot. The fact that these small fruits are 

 not only presented in clusters, on a common calyx 

 as on a plate, but that the same shrub or trailing 

 bush bears scores or hundreds of such clusters, is 

 of great advantage to them in the distribution of 

 their seeds ; inasmuch as most of the birds attracted 

 by them feed in flocks, and such an abundant supply 

 has developed the habit among birds, and made it 

 worth their while to stay and dine. 



The principle of " mutual help " has perfected, 

 protected, and encouraged the development of plants, 

 as much as it has benefited all the higher members 

 of the animal kingdom, not excepting man himself 

 We reasonably anticipate that in the future this 

 principle will be infinitely more active in the moral, 

 mental, and physical development of mankind, than 

 its operation amongst ourselves in the past can 

 furnish us with any idea of! 



