1388 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 
but a few hours; one plant, however, may have a 
good many blossoms. 
Another interesting case of insurance may be 
found in the formation of leaf-buds, from which 
new leaves are developed. ‘These leaf-buds were 
carefully prepared long before the preceding sum- 
mer’s leaves had fallen; and in no way could the 
plant better show its remarkable forethought. 
In bulbous plants, such as daffodils, snowdrops, 
hyacinths, and lilies, a big supply of food-material 
is stored away for future use. This supply has 
been saved from the past season’s earnings—an- 
other “endowment” scheme. 
All who have raised hyacinths in a bow] of water 
near a sunny window realise that all the plant re- 
quires to develop green leaves and marvellous flow- 
ers, laden with perfume, is plenty of water and 
light. What a wonderful transformation takes 
place! This is entirely due to the energy of the 
sun converting the stored material of the bulb into 
this fantastical and glorious blossom. 
Horticulturists and gardeners have learned how 
to cause bulbs of lilies, dahlias, and hyacinths to 
store up an abundance of food-material, by cut- 
ting down the plant each year just before its flow- 
er-buds appear. This enables the plant to store 
up several years’ savings, and as a result when it 
