io INTRODUCTION 



3. Plants in Spring. — It is in spring that we wonder 

 most about plants. Whether you go into fields and woods 

 or stay in town, it is the same. You see things growing. 

 You watch the trees and shrubs turn green. You see green 

 things sprouting from the cold and seemingly lifeless ground. 

 Sometimes you seem almost to feel things growing. 



Who can see, day by day, this fresh color coming back 

 into the trees and over the ground, and not find pleasure 

 in it ? Who can find the first violets, or see the first green 

 coming among willows along brooksides, and feel no 

 thrill? 



Have you ever wondered how this plant awakening 

 comes to pass? Have you ever felt that you would like 

 to know the plants, somewhat as you know your friends, 

 — know their names, know how they live, and know how 

 man, whose life depends upon them, can, through knowl- 

 edge, improve their beauty and their usefulness? Have 

 you ever thought that when you come to travel or have 

 days free for roaming in the fields and woods it would add 

 much to your pleasure to know the trees and flowers you 

 meet? Have you ever wished to be able to judge why 

 plants grow in the manner and in the places that we find 

 them ? Have you ever thought you would be glad to know 

 how best to beautify with grass and shrubs and trees your 

 home, or the home that some day may be yours? Have 

 you ever wished to have a garden or a farm of your own? 



Have you ever suspected that the lives of plants are 

 like our lives, at least in that they, too, must have food 

 and air and water ? Has it ever occurred to you that there 

 is a kinship between all living things, both plants and 

 animals, and that you, the most intelligent of all living 

 things, should understand all you can about this kinship ? 



