6 THE GARDEN OF EARTH 



III — What the Plants are doing 



Wandering still through the quiet garden, gazing 

 at one plant after another, we come suddenly on the 

 gardener, a hard-working man of the olden type. He 

 is tying up some long trails of a creeper ; and our presence 

 seems to make no sort of difference to him. Presently 

 we venture on a question — an attempt to draw him out. 

 He surely knows much about these garden wonders. 

 We try to intimate politely that he could tell us — things 

 — if he would. 



He goes steadily on with his work, not answering 

 hastily. But after a pause, he says — 



" Yes. I've seed a deal of their ways." 



*' Their ways ! " That is rather a new idea. We 

 had not perhaps thought of plants as having ways like 

 human beings. 



" Wliat sort of ways? " we ask. 



He takes a good while to consider. W^e begin to 

 fancy that he has forgotten our question. But he 

 straightens himself, looks full at us, and remarks — 



" You just keep a look-out, and you'll see. They've 

 got lots of ways — queer ways too, and no mistake." 



" Tell us one — just one ! " we beg; for he has taken 

 up his basket, and is on the move. 



" You can see 'em a-lookin' up at the sun, and foUerin' 

 him along ! " 



Then he disappears inside a small glass-house, and 

 we exchange glances, deciding to take his advice. 



That means careful study. Plant after plant, kind 

 after kind, we examine. Many flowers, unmistakably, 

 do not take any particular trouble to face the sun. 



