Vices of Plants 117 



While I believe plants have their likes and dislikes I can't 

 imagine the hothouse heliotrope having a regard for a tiger- 

 lily and some prefer to die rather than endure uncongenial 

 society, I see no evidence that plants show the least germ of 

 morality. They have not yet arrived at any nice discrimina- 

 tion between plant and plant as we see it between man and 

 man. Perhaps this is why the garden is so smiling and con- 

 tented. I find no trace of servility, malice, no bitterness of 

 speech. Happy is that state of existence where vice and vir- 

 tue are still but future, unrecognized possibilities. 



