132 AS CALIFORNIA FLOWERS GROW 



into contact with wounds, and it affects the eyes if 

 held near them. 



However, the helpful plants far exceed the poi- 

 sonous ones, both in number of species and in fre- 

 quency of individuals. Having acquired the habit 

 of observation, the camper can wander to the utmosj 

 wilds of the State feeling as secure from sickness as 

 if accompanied by his private physician. 



While the habits of wild plants are the results 

 of centuries of adaptation to environment and are 

 formed quite independent of any human influence, 

 their titles and their transportations and their uses 

 are interwoven with the history of man. If you dip 

 into the study of our native flora, you are piling up 

 great pleasures for your future. You not only gain 

 new physical strength in following them to their 

 homes and new mental agility in observing their 

 variations; but through the names of even the com- 

 monest species, you step into the realms of mythol- 

 ogy and adventure and romance. 



