VICES OF PLANTS 



F criminologists would make an exhaustive study 

 of plant life, they would find the sources from 

 which many roots of evil spring. The human so- 

 cial fabric has a close analogy to the floral world, 

 and much becomes clear when viewed in rudimentary forms. 

 I do not know which way to refer the resemblance that 

 plants are so human in their character and expression, or 

 human beings so plant-like. Perhaps the latter is the more 

 logical to students of evolution. Plants have simple, ele- 

 mental vices. They show rapacity, improvidence, caprice, 

 selfishness, sloth, arrogant self-seeking and profligacy. It 

 has been reserved for the human race to develop the meaner, 

 petty vices jealousy, anger, slander, envy, pride and ingrati- 

 tude : of these an honest self-respecting plant is incapable. 



For example, predatory wealth finds an equivalent in rapa- 

 cious plants that make not only a vigorous central growth, but 

 reach out on every side to establish branch offices where they 

 install children and grandchildren with incredible speed; who 

 absorb all the nutriment within many feet, and try to choke 

 out those who dispute their territory. The progenitors of 

 rascally railroad presidents, sinecure officials, commercial 

 monopolists are descendants of the original sinners in the gar- 

 den of Eden, the Michaelmas daisy, Achillea, perennial as- 

 ters, garden heliotrope, Helianthus latifolius, Virginia creeper, 

 Calystegia, bouncing Bet and hawkbit. Let but a single 

 one of these prototypes of greedy financiers get a firm hold 

 in your garden, and certain notorious oil monopolies are con- 



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