8 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 



spring until October. It grows in various kinds 

 of soil, but prefers dark, shady places, with plenty 

 of moisture. What a striking picture it makes, 

 when found in large patches, with its dark green 

 leaves, its red fruit, and its dainty flowers all 

 showing at once! 



The lovely trailing arbutus, which is sometimes 

 known as ground laurel, or Mayflower, is another 

 walking plant. Its delicate white or pink flowers 

 are usually hidden beneath its leaves away under 

 the snow, for it is among the very earliest flowers 

 of spring to bloom. 



"Pure and perfect, sweet Arbutus 

 Twines her rosy-tinted wreath." 



Like many of our rarest birds, which have be- 

 come extinct because of their wonderful beauty, 

 the trailing arbutus not only threatens to become 

 extinct, but is already unknown in many local- 

 ities where it once flourished. This is a tragedy 

 indeed, and lovers of this early spring beauty 

 should not only refrain from gathering too many 

 of these flowers, but should encourage others to 

 leave them to grow. Florists often send young 

 boys out to collect the flowers, and they thought- 

 lessly pull up the entire plant. 



Its method of progress is like that of other walk- 



