4 THE GARDEN OF EARTH 



We all know that the trees around, excepting only 

 the evergreens, have been lately as bare as the barest 

 of those trees which still do not show any foliage. 



Yet we may not have grasped the fact that each of 

 those dead-looking branches is not only alive, but already 

 is actively at work, putting forth a new array of spring 

 clothing. If we did not know it, how should we guess 

 that the tiny beginnings of leaves are now actually 

 getting ready inside the buds of boughs and twigs, so 

 as to come out into daylight at the earliest possible 

 moment, dressing the whole tree in sweet fresh green, 

 so giving it power to get through its summer work. 



" What work? " you may ask. 



At the outset you may be sure of one thing. Not 

 only that each tree has some definite task to carry out, 

 but that each leaf has its own particular share in that 

 task. Roots, stems, flowers, one and all have their 

 appointed service. Every part of a plant has its own 

 especial work to do, for which it is especially fitted; 

 and no other part of the plant can, generally, undertake 

 that duty. 



Wandering onward, we reach a wide border, crammed 

 with flowers. The rich, brown earth is damp from rain 

 in the past night. If we had never seen anything of the 

 kind before — perhaps if we had — we might know little 

 about the varieties of good food for plants, found in such 

 soil, without which they could not grow. A long 

 wriggling earth-worm half shows itself, and scurries 

 away. Only an earth-worm, yet a most useful person; 

 for he too, humble though he be, has his tasks. 



Plants of many kinds are crowded together in the 



