SUMMER FLOWERS 



insect-visitors is so obvious ? The answer is that 

 the fragrant substances are waste-products or 

 by-products of the vital processes that go on in 

 the plant. 



A third attraction of flowers is their colour. 

 The pigments that produce most of the colours 

 except white have various meanings in the life of 

 the plant. Some are unimportant by-products, 

 of little or no direct internal use after they are 

 formed ; others are very important by-products, 

 of much direct internal use. Some seem to belong 

 to the series of reserve-products, but most seem to 

 be waste-products the ashes of the vital fires. 

 In some flowers the bright colouring means that a 

 part is not getting sufficient food ; in others, too 

 rapid life ; in some, too little moisture ; in others, 

 too much light ; but in the majority it means 

 beauty for ashes. 



It is difficult to find out to what extent the insect- 

 visitors like colour as such, or how far they simply 

 connect certain colours with previous successes 

 in collecting nectar and pollen, Another difficulty 

 is to distinguish colour from brightness of surface. 

 But after making some allowances it seems still 

 good science to say that the colours of flowers 

 attract certain kinds of insect- visitors. 



We must not leave the summer flowers without 

 at least admiring the gorgeous pageant of Flora's 

 Feast. The tide which sets in with a rush in spring 

 reaches its high-water mark in midsummer. Play 

 gives place to industry, and the frolics of youth 

 to the strenuousness of full strength. The buds 

 81 F 



