ART IN THE PLANT WORLD 
leaves” is to speak in the most general of terms. 
What is more exquisite than the silver gray to 
be seen on the backs of many tree-leaves, nota- 
bly the Alders, Willows, and Poplars? Many 
leaves join the Wild Lettuce in having purple 
backs. The reverse sides of Magnolias and 
Rhododendrons are red-brown. In the autumn, 
nearly all leaves show brilliant patches of 
colour. 
In borrowing Nature’s colours to set forth 
our ideas, we have become possessors of a 
mighty vehicle of expression. With yellow, we 
can speak of life, light, cheer and vitality. 
Red tells of fire, heat, blood, excitement and 
passion. Blue indicates coolness, quiet and 
restraint. In choosing green for its most univer- 
sal colour, Nature harmonizes life and restraint, 
warmth and coolness, as represented by the 
component blue and yellow. In the same way, 
when she wants to concentrate the maximum 
colour power in a single fruit or flower, she uses 
orange, a combination of light and _ heat, 
vitality and excitement. Purple represents a 
neutralized idea. Red vitality is tempered with 
blue restraint, which results in mysticism. 
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