Snow-on-the-Mountain 



This odd plant is shown here to illustrate the necessity 

 of studying not merely the form of a plant but the forces 

 within it. It receives its name because when it blooms its leaves 

 begin to turn white. The purpose of this, Mr. Burbank says, is to 

 help guide the insects to the blossom in order to insure reproduction. 

 It will be noted that the leaves which do not lead to blossoms remain 

 green, while those which surround the blossoms form brilliantly 

 illumined pathways for the insects. Few plants give outward evi- 

 dences of their processes so clearly as this but the forces 

 of heredity and environment are there none the less 

 and it is these forces which we must study 

 if we are to help plants to improvement. 



