62 LUTHER BURBANK 



peeped through the soil. Leaves and buds appeared, 

 which were soon followed by the golden flower cups. 



Little Miss Eschscholtzia is a quaint maiden who wears 

 a queer green pointed cap like a brownie's toboggan. 

 This is trimmed with a delicate frill which has a rose- 

 colored edge. She doffs this cap before making her bow to 

 the world, then spreads out her yellow satin gown and 

 dances in the sunshine. She is not only quaint but wise 

 as well, for when the fog blows in, or the rain approaches, 

 she folds her garments tightly about her, lest her beautiful 

 sheen be spoiled or her golden dust injured. 



These little Eschscholtzia maidens were being taught to 

 change the color of their gowns, so when examination day 

 came the master put white ties around the stem, close 

 up to the blossom of those who seemed to be trying to 

 obey his instructions. 



How proud these plant pupils surely felt as they stood 

 erect with snowy ties around their little necks. They 

 had seen this reward of merit given to other plants 

 only yesterday to a class belonging to the lily family 

 but never before had such a prize been awarded to one 

 of their kind. 



The workmen knew when they saw these ties that 

 plants wearing them must be carefully watched and their 

 seeds saved, while their sisters with the accustomed golden 

 dresses must be rejected. 



The second year thousands of Eschscholtzia pupils were 

 in the school. Soon they spread their bright petals to the 



