CHAPTER VI 



Vt'c 



SOLOMONS RIVALS 



June 



" The purple heath and golden broom 

 On many mountains catch the gale ; 

 O'er lawns the lily sheds perfume, 

 The violet in the vale." 



June is the month of flowers, as May is of leaves ; 

 it is also the month of richest and most varied colors. 

 The leaves are in their prime, and the flowers are in 

 their greatest luxuriance. Green is the chief color 

 in the plant world. It is so constantly the color of 

 leaves that " green as a leaf " and " leaf-green " are 

 common expressions. 



Many plants have parti-colored foliage, but in com- 

 parison with the whole they are few, and when we 

 ask what is the usual color of leaves, stems, bracts, 

 tendrils, or calyx, " green " is a fair answer. 



Next to green, yellow is the most common color. 

 This is the chief color of stamens and pistils ; it is 

 also the chief color of spring flowers, though white 

 blossoms also abound. When the warmth and glow 



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