78 Field, Forest, and Wayside Flowers 



But in all our native species, except the white 

 ash, the future of the race depends upon the mu- 

 tual helpfulness of the present generation. The 

 stamen-bearing trees, which yield no seed, exist 

 entirely for the benefit of the family. And the 

 pistil-bearing trees, which are the hope of the 

 race, cannot accomplish their task without help 

 from their neighbors. The trees are learning co- 

 operation, just as individuals do in a society 

 which is emerging from savagery toward civiliza- 

 tion. 



The horse-chestnut blossoms also cooperate. 

 The pyramidal bunch of bloom is not a crowd of 

 individuals each self-contained and self-sufficient. 

 It is more like the ant and bee communities, in 

 which each individual has duties to be performed 

 for the good of all. 



Most of the white blossoms, flecked with rose 

 or gold, have no individual future. Their pros- 

 pects are sunk for the public good. They have 

 no pistils and will ripen no seed. 



Their prettiness is merely a lure to attract 

 some flying insect to the spire of bloom. She 

 will carry away their pollen, for which they can 

 receive no return in kind, as they have no stig- 

 mas and can set no seed. And having been en- 



