AND HIS PLANT SCHOOL 97 



would see to it that she did not hide from him. Stooping 

 closely, he plucked bloom after bloom, for you must know 

 that they are lowly in their ways. 



At last he came upon the one that breathed a faint, 

 sweet fragrance a suggestion of the arbutus when it first 

 opens its spicy blossoms. You may be sure that he marked 

 well his treasure, and encouraged it to put forth stronger 

 efforts, and when its seeds were ripe they were labelled 

 and placed in security until the season for planting came. 



From that time, for several years a selection of the 

 most fragrant flowers from the offspring of this verbena 

 pupil was made, closely watched, and tenderly cared for. 

 The fragrance became more and more pronounced with 

 each year's selection; and finally one was found to have 

 the full sweet fragrance of the trailing arbutus firmly fixed, 

 and was given the name "Mayflower," which is the com- 

 mon name of the trailing arbutus. This little maiden wore 

 the same dainty pink dress that has always adorned the 

 arbutus, and was well named for both fragrance and color. 



The next one in this society to have its prayers for 

 fragrance answered was a calla, or richardia. It had no 

 odor, but was otherwise a great favorite. It had already 

 been a pupil of the school for several years, and during that 

 time had changed its size, and the color of its dress had 

 assumed many tints and shades. She patiently awaited 

 the gift of perfume. At last it was granted her, and she 

 was ready to go forth into the world. This calla now lifts 



