FLOWERS AND FOLKS. 227 



acter, though less striking than these, of 

 course, within the limits of his own local 

 researches. If you ask me where I find 

 dandelions, I answer, anywhere ; but if you 

 wish me to show you the sweet colt's-foot 

 (Nardosmia palmata), you must go with 

 me to one particular spot. Any of my 

 neighbors will tell you where the pink moc- 

 casin flower grows; but if it is the yellow 

 one you are in search of, I shall swear you 

 to secrecy before conducting you to its 

 swampy hiding-place. Some plants, like 

 some people (but the plants, be it noted, are 

 mostly weeds), seem to flourish best away 

 from home ; others die under the most care- 

 ful transplanting. Some are lovers of the 

 open, and cannot be too much in the sun ; 

 others lurk in deep woods, under the triple 

 shadow of tree and bush and fern. Some 

 take to sandy hill-tops ; others must stand 

 knee-deep in water. One insists upon the 

 richest of meadow loam; another is con- 

 tent with the face of a rock. We may say 

 of them as truly as of ourselves, De gusti- 

 bus non est disputandum. Otherwise, how 

 would the earth ever be clothed with ver- 

 dure? 



