——— iain anntenneatnnenennenninninninnennei ne 
PERSONALITY OF PLANTS 
heat and power. In a desert region, animals 
soon perish, because even carnivorous species 
live on herbivorous fellows which in turn are 
eaters of plants. This is why the distribution of 
men and animals is so greatly influenced by 
that of plants. 
For clothing man depends partly upon such 
plant-products as Cotton and Flax and partly 
on plant-fed animals which yield him silk, wool 
and leather. The great plant structures of the 
forest give him the chief materials which go 
into the construction of his ships and houses, 
with all their appurtenances. ‘The bodies of 
plants, recently alive or the bodies of plants 
long since dead furnish fuel for cooking, heat- 
ing and power. Drugs are very largely of 
vegetable origin. In brief, the plants feed, 
clothe, shelter, and warm mankind. 
Man has made many plants his servants. His 
first attention was naturally given to such 
species as he could use for food. Two thousand 
years ago, the ancients were growing practically 
all the food plants that are known today. Maize, 
Potatoes, Rice, Beans, Dates and Bananas have 
been cultivated for an even longer period. 
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