XVII 



PLANTS THAT ENTERTAIN 



But 'tis the greater art, to entertain! 



RAYMOND COMSTOCK. 



CIVILISED flowers make good hostesses. 

 Not only do they decorate their houses in 

 gorgeous colours, perfume the palatial inner walls, 

 and powder their pretty faces with golden pollen, 

 but, also, accepting as a proverb the couplet, 



"No man hath entertained his best, 

 Till bread be broken with his guest/' 



they actually prepare inviting feasts for their insect 

 guests. These feasts are, however, really in the 

 nature of fees, and are given to the guest to pay 

 him for carrying pollen to another plant. 



One thing the plant must be most careful to 

 avoid : that is, not to feed the guest too much, nor 

 even to satisfy his appetite, as he might then not 

 call upon another flower. 



All flowers are not considerate of their guests. 

 Some hostesses have the discourtesy actually to 

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