MYSTICISM IN THE PLANT WORLD 
mond perfidity, one is reduced to looking up 
this curious code in an indexed book. When 
each variety of the Rose family has different 
and fluctuating significance, a swain hesitates 
to summon the floral language of love to his aid. 
Many people believe that peculiar mystic 
attachments exist between certain birds and 
flowers. The Persians claim that whenever a 
Rose is plucked, the nightingale utters a plaint- 
ive cry as if to protest against the wounding of 
the object of its love. Many other birds show 
marked affection for various plants. 
In the same manner, almost every man and 
woman has his or her favourite flower. Certain 
persons of a temperamental type are often 
emotionally affected by the presence of flowers 
with which they appear to have a mysterious 
psychic connection. Certain people claim to be 
able to discern such marked similiarity between 
human beings and various flower affinities that 
they undertake to liken various prominent 
people to different blossoms. There is much 
chance for scientific investigation in this field. 
With Perdita we at least know that “flowers of 
middle summer should be given to men of 
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