PLANT CHARACTER STUDY 



Different individuals require different treatment, enjoy different 

 pleasures, dread different dangers, and are threatened or overshadowed by 

 different sorrows. 



Almost in the same way, all plant life Is made up of nature forces, 

 vastly contradictory. The final results of the working-out of these forces 

 spell life — or death. 



Like human beings, plants are threatened with different dangers. They 

 are immune from certain diseases, or they are predisposed to the same. They 

 are proof against the ravages of certain insects, certain vermin, certain 

 molds, or they are very susceptible to the life-draining effects of such. 



Certain plants require rich, nutritious soils, which same soils wouI'J 

 quickly cause other plants to mold, rot, or, on the other hand, would pro- 

 duce a rank and unnatural growth, too intolerable to be permitted. 



Certain plants require warmth above ground, warmth below ground, 

 a nice modicum of moisture, and a close protection from draughts. These, 

 by the way, are those that revel in loneliness. They love to be left undis- 

 turbed, in sole possession of earth, air and currents — and they breathe out 

 the fragrances of heaven itself. 



Again, we find plants that need as consistent attentions as young 

 children. They must be coddled. Above all things, they must be loved. 

 They want their faces washed daily. They love a daily tepid bath. They 

 shiver and grumble when they get wet, cold feet. Adverse winds, an un- 

 fortunate draught, hot or cold, simply crinkles them up. They get their 

 faces and limbs sunburnt if they stand in the sun before they are quite dry. 

 They become unhealthy if they are too muffled up. 



And so runs the story. As with humans, just so with plants. A suc- 

 cessful mother knows her children. They do not realize, yet, that she does 

 know them. They have a divine intuition that sends them runniag to her 

 to be "kissed and made well." In some cases the hurt is not too real, and 

 quite often the hurt is very real — but bearable; with the help of mother 

 love, forgotten. 



A successful gardener knows his plants. If he adds a member to his 

 collection he sets about learning the nature of that plant. He studies its 

 habits, its needs, its nature — and uses common-sense and mother love- 



