8 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 
spring until October. It grows in various kinds 
of soil, but prefers dark, shady places, with plenty 
of moisture. What a striking picture it makes, 
when found in large patches, with its dark green 
leaves, its red fruit, and its dainty flowers all 
showing at once! 
The lovely trailing arbutus, which is sometimes 
known as ground laurel, or Mayflower, is another 
walking plant. Its delicate white or pink flowers 
are usually hidden beneath its leaves away under 
the snow, for it is among the very earliest flowers 
of spring to bloom. 
“Pure and perfect, sweet Arbutus 
Twines her rosy-tinted wreath.” 
Like many of our rarest birds, which have be- 
come extinct because of their wonderful beauty, 
the trailing arbutus not only threatens to become 
extinct, but is already unknown in many local- 
ities where it once flourished. This is a tragedy 
indeed, and lovers of this early spring beauty 
should not only refrain from gathering too many 
of these flowers, but should encourage others to 
leave them to grow. Florists often send young 
boys out to collect the flowers, and they thought- 
lessly pull up the entire plant. 
Its method of progress is like that of other walk- 
