IN STORM AND SHINE 55 



through the main root long before you have un- 

 earthed the end of it. If for no other reason than 

 this, then, it is at least unwise to try to uproot 

 these pasture-flowers. Should they be required 

 for the home-garden, it is far wiser and better 

 behaviour to gather seed from them later in the 

 season. Most of them grow admirably from seed 

 thus gathered and sotvn as soon as possible ; most 

 of them develop rapidly and blossom within two 

 years ; and with this grand advantage over up- 

 rooted plants— they are able to acclimatize them- 

 selves from birth to their new conditions and 

 surroundings, their translation being no rude and 

 abrupt transition from one climate to another. 



In this and in many other directions, it is when 

 bad w^eather sweeps the Alps that w^e can perhaps 

 best learn from Nature what Emerson learnt from 

 her : that " she suffers nothing to remain in her 

 Kingdom which cannot help itself." And, in 

 learning how these plants help themselves, we 

 are also learning how best we can help them w^hen 

 we remove them to our gardens. Bad weather 

 is the greatest of teachers all the w^orld over. On 

 sunny days we enjoy and admire what is very 

 largely the product of the storms. 



Everything, even the worst thing, in its place, 



