" Let us content ourselves no longer with being mere ' botanists ' — his- 

 torians of structural facts. The flowers are not mere comely or curious 

 vegetable creations, with colors, odors, petals, stamens and innumerable 

 technical attributes. The 7vonted insight alike of scientist, philosopher, 

 theologian, and dreamer is now trpu dialed in the neiv revelation. Beauty 

 is not ' its own excuse for bei?ig,' nor was fragrance ever ' 7vasted on the 

 desert air. ^ The seer has at last heard and interpreted the voice in the 

 wilderness. The flower is no longer a simple passive victim in the busy 

 bee' s sweet pillage, but rather a co7iscious being, with hopes, aspirations 

 and companionships. The insect is its counterpart. Its fragrance is but 

 a perfumed whisper of welcome, its color is as the wooing blush and rosy 

 lip, its portals are decked for his comifig, and its sweet hospitalities hutnored 

 tc his tarryitig ; and as it speeds its parting aflinity, rests content that its 

 life's consutnmation has been fulfilled.'" — William Hamilton Gibson. 



XV 



