248 GARDENING WITH BRAINS 



kinds of beans pays only in the intellectual 

 satisfaction of it and in the general standing 

 that it gives the business." This is true of plant 

 breeding in general, and that is why so little of 

 it is done. As soon as the first of the new seeds 

 are sold, anyone can raise and sell them; there 

 is no patent or copyright and royalty. For this 

 very reason such achievements as putting new 

 colors or perfumes or details of shape into 

 flowers and making vegetables earlier, bigger, 

 and better flavored are peculiarly for wealthy 

 persons who are ready to sell out and devote the 

 rest of their lives to nobler tasks than money 

 making. A single creation along this line may 

 make you immortal. The joys of creative gar- 

 dening certainly are as intense as those of 

 authorship. Think of seeing on your grounds 

 flowers that no one has ever seen; of tasting 

 fruits or vegetables that no one ever enjoyed 

 before! Is there anything else that brings us so 

 near the Creator? 



HEALTHY PLANTS RADIATE HAPPINESS 



Even if you do not care to undertake such a 

 task there are a thousand other delights of 

 gardening awaiting you. Nor need this be 

 purely a selfish indulgence. You can raise more 

 flowers and tender vegetables than you need and 

 send them daily to the hospitals, where your 

 name will be blessed hourly. That will magnify 

 your own pleasures just as a microscope en- 



