A BACKWARD GLANCE 



further in invention, art, science, and general 

 knowledge — than the one hundred and thirty-eight 

 generations, which preceded them, combined. 



So, up to two or three liuman generations ago, 

 the plants, with their start of tens of thousands 

 of generations, were abreast of or ahead of human 

 needs. 



But human inventive genius, going ahead 

 hundreds or thousands of years at a jump, 

 bringing with it organization and specialization, 

 has changed all of that. 



In our race across the untracked plains before 

 us, we have outrun our plants. That is all. And, 

 having outrun them, we must lend a hand to 

 bring them up with us if they are to meet our 



requirements. 



***** 



Shall we content ourselves with watering our 

 plants when they are dry; and enriching the soil 

 when it is worn out; shall we be satisfied merely 

 to be good gardeners? 



Or shall we study the living forces within the 

 plants themselves and let them teach us how to 

 work real transformations? 



***** 



It is conceivable that a manufacturer of 

 machinery might become successful, or even rise 

 to be the foremost manufacturer in his line, 



[279] 



