PERSONALITY OF PLANTS 
whole language of their own of which we can 
get only faint interpretations. 
Cold biologists explain that the beautiful 
hues and shades of plantdom are largely de- 
signed to attract insects and so secure a neces- 
sary distribution of pollen. There is no doubt 
that this is true, but for one to believe that this 
is the sole function of a flower’s beauty is to 
reduce the world to a materialistic basis and 
banish all thoughts of the esthetic, the spiritual 
and the ideal. The flowers are permitted to 
adorn themselves in bright raiment at least 
partly in order to satisfy the universal craving 
for the delicate and the artistic. 
It should not be imagined that the gayest 
and most brilliantly coloured members of the 
plant world are always residents of the tropics. 
The hot countries undoubtedly produce many 
specimens of startling hue and pattern, but it 
is often their ostentation and exotic character, 
rather than their beauty or charm, which at- 
tract attention. They are apt to be a bit barbaric 
and not as numerous as they are reputed to be. 
For great masses of beautiful flowers, we do 
not go to Mid-Africa or Cuba, but to the 
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