2 54 The Great World's Farm 



not natives, but colonists. The fatherland of the arti- 

 choke family, to which the "thistle" belongs, is on the 

 shores of the Mediterranean, and from thence "thistles" 

 and clover were probably introduced by the Spaniards. 

 And they not only found the soil and climate suitable, 

 but a still greater point in their favor, they found the 

 ground very scantily occupied by native vegetation. 



There had not been time to plant this corner of the 

 world's farm thoroughly, for it had been under water 

 until comparatively recent times — recent, geologically 

 speaking, that is. And when it became dry land there 

 were few plants and no trees at hand to colonize it. 



There was abundant vegetation to the north, however, 

 and that of the most luxuriant kind, and most of the early 

 colonists came from there. But they were too delicate to 

 bear well the change to such much cooler regions, and 

 only a few managed to settle down and really flourish; so 

 that when the Europeans came, strong and vigorous, they 

 soon overpowered these previous colonists, which had but 

 scantily occupied the ground, and themselves grew in a 

 rampant manner. Any delicate new-comers arriving after 

 such sturdy emigrants as these would naturally have no 

 chance at all. 



Plants may find a vacant or almost vacant spot, and 

 they may like the soil, and even the climate, but if they 

 are dependent upon any particular insect for fertilization 

 they will not be able to perfect their seed without it; and 

 if they cannot do this they can never become naturalized, 

 and must needs in most cases die out. 



Of plants which require help, those are most likely to 

 prosper whose blossoms are least peculiar in shape, and 

 most accessible. Tubular blossoms, such even as the 



