PLANTS CARRY LIFE INSURANCE 139 
is allowed to blossom, a gorgeous display of flowers 
is the reward. 
During the winter season most plants have their 
vacations; this period is spent in sleeping and rest- 
ing. But even while they are resting, plants are 
not idle, for a great preparation for their early 
awakening is going on. The skunk-cabbage can 
hardly wait until February to peep up. And away 
under the snow and ice the trailing arbutus has 
already put forth its delicate, pink buds, ready at 
the first invitation of the early spring sunshine to © 
burst into bloom. The glaucous willow, also, is 
ready to reward with nectar the first bee that ven- 
tures forth in the early, chill winds; and even the 
wake-robin (Trillium erectum), with its disagree- 
able odour, is prepared to feast the first flies of 
the season; all as a result of the foresight of the 
parent plant in preparing for their early appear- 
ance—in other words, in providing insurance. 
‘Many plants use colour and beauty to insure their 
children a proper location in life, for when these 
children once choose their homes and become estab- 
lished, they rarely change. The bright, red colour 
of the apple attracts birds, animals, and human 
beings to it, in the same way that the beautiful 
red rose attracts insects by its colour and fragrance; 
the apple, too, has a wonderful perfume, as do 
