Vices of Plants 117 
While I believe plants have their likes and dislikes—I can’t 
imagine the hothouse heliotrope having a regard for a tiger- 
lily—and some prefer to die rather than endure uncongenial 
society, I see no evidence that plants show the least germ of 
morality. They have not yet arrived at any nice discrimina- 
tion between plant and plant as we see it between man and 
man. Perhaps this is why the garden is so smiling and con- 
tented. I find no trace of servility, malice, no bitterness of 
speech. Happy is that state of existence where vice and vir- 
tue are still but future, unrecognized possibilities. 
