216 FLOWERS AND FOLKS. 



in hiding, as one might say, in the shadow 

 of its taller and showier neighbors. Not far 

 off, but a little more within the wood, were 

 patches of the linnsea, which had been at its 

 prettiest in June, but even now, in late Sep- 

 tember, was still putting forth scattered blos- 

 soms. What should a man do? Discard 

 the golden-rod for the gentian, and in turn 

 forsake the gentian for the twin -flower? 

 Nay, a child might do that, but not a man ; 

 for the three were all beautiful and all in- 

 teresting, and each the more beautiful and 

 interesting for its unlikeness to the others. 

 If one wishes a stiff lesson in classification, 

 there are few harder genera (among flower- 

 ing plants) than Solidago ; if he would in- 

 vestigate the timely and taking question of 

 the dependence of plants upon insects, this 

 humble "proterandrous" gentian (which to 

 human vision seems closed, but which the 

 humble-bee knows well how to enter) offers 

 him a favorable subject ; while if he has an 

 eye for beauty, a nose for delicate fragrance, 

 and a soul for poetry, the linnsea will never 

 cease to be one of his prime favorites. So 

 I say again, let us have variety. It would 

 be a stupid town all whose inhabitants should 



