THE WORK OF FLOWERS 119 



grow on one flower, and the stamen on another. But 

 both are needed. 



Sepals and petals have their task to do, in sheltering 

 and protecting the stamens and the pistils. Yet without 

 either sepals or petals the flower might still be a flower. 



And why ? 



Because the true work of a flower, that for which it 

 lives, is — ^not merely to be beautiful, not merely to give 

 forth a swxet scent, not merely to win admiration, but — 

 to bring forth fresh life, to start new plants, which in 

 time may take the place of the old ones which die. 



Seeds, it is true, are not the only mode by which 

 plant-life can be carried on. A gardener is able to 

 produce new plants by other means. A slip from a Rose- 

 tree, cut in a certain way and put in soil of the right 

 kind and carefully tended, will send out roots and in 

 time will become a Rose-tree. Or a leaf-bud may be 

 taken and put into the stem or branch of another 

 kindred tree, and it will grow there, sending forth a 

 shoot, and in time bearing roses like those of the tree 

 from which it was taken. 



Such modes are called " growth by cuttings " and 

 "budding"; and "grafting" is another plan, not 

 unlike the last. 



But these are and must be the work of a gardener. 

 No plants can carry out such methods for themselves. 

 In a wild state their only way of bringing fresh plants 

 into existence is, generally, by seeding. So the manu- 

 facture of seeds really is the prime work of flowers. It 

 is that for which they are made, and that for which 

 they die. 



