FOREWORD xi 



all forms of life. The plant, the animal, the bird, 

 the fish, the human, since each is a member of a 

 living species, and related through one nature, per- 

 haps a single origin, must in the habits and actions 

 of its living portray characteristics of similarity 

 to every other species. It is for us to devote our- 

 selves to the study of these other forms of life, 

 in order to find out the truths which each may hold, 

 the secret keys to the great mysteries of life. 



THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS is the unlocking 

 of the doors which have barred us from the mys- 

 teries of the plant kingdom. It is an entrance into 

 the private life of plantkind. What secrets we 

 may learn from the plant nature and habits and 

 characteristics to help us in understanding the 

 origin, purpose, and extent of life, can be found 

 only by an intimate acquaintance with the inner 

 life of the plants. 



Only through many years of close association 

 can one hope faithfully to describe the life and 

 character of a race of people. And only through 

 close application, conscientious research, a patience 

 that comes only from love, can one understand the 

 nature and habits of plants. 



/ With THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS, I am blaz- 

 ing a trail. In many of the plant acts described, 

 I am declaring heretofore unpublished truths, 



