CHAPTER XXXVI 

 USEFUL AND BEAUTIFUL 



Two little pupils from Japan once came to the plant 

 school. Very distinguished they were, for they were sent 

 from the garden of the Mikado. They were already of 

 considerable worth, else they would not have had so famous 

 a home in the Far East. Indeed, they were greatly admired 

 by children of Japan, for every year during blossom festi- 

 vals they gave delight to many kimona-clad maidens who 

 revelled in showers of white and rose-colored petals from 

 their blossoms. For one of these fruit pupils had chosen 

 white as its spring decoration, while the other, each season, 

 was dressed in brilliant red. 



We are sure that they were not lonely in their new home, 

 they had so many friends and neighbors; many of these 

 were from their native land, but many more were from 

 other parts of the world. There was the edible ash being 

 trained to discard its bitter puckery character and become 

 more useful. 



Corns from South America, Mexico, and Japan formed a 

 very large class, and attracted the attention of all visitors. 

 One with long, ribbonlike blades striped with rainbow 

 colors added grace and beauty to the garden. The master 

 was training this to grow larger and to keep its colored 

 stripes of rose, purple, green, and cream of uniform width. 



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