XVII 
PLANTS THAT ENTERTAIN 
But ’tis the greater art, to entertain! 
—Raymonp Comstock. 
IVILISED flowers make good hostesses. 
Not only do they decorate their houses in 
gorgeous colours, perfume the palatial inner walls, 
and powder their pretty faces with golden pollen, 
but, also, accepting as a proverb the couplet, 
“No man hath entertained his best, 
Till bread be broken with his guest,” 
they actually prepare inviting feasts for their insect 
guests. ‘These feasts are, however, really in the 
nature of fees, and are given to the guest to pay 
him for carrying pollen to another plant. 
One thing the plant must be most careful to 
avoid: that is, not to feed the guest too much, nor 
even to satisfy his appetite, as he might then not 
call upon another flower. 
All flowers are not considerate of their guests. 
Some hostesses have the discourtesy actually to 
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