NEW CREATIONS IN PLANT LIFE 



any one. No one was to know what he was 

 engaged in until such time as he had some- 

 thing to show for it. 



As he had opportunity, he read such few 

 practical books on botany and the breeding of 

 plants as he could find, but these, save in some 

 matters of nomenclature and detail, were of 

 little aid to him. He soon found out that he 

 stood face to face with Nature, and only 

 from her lips could he learn her secrets. 



He read Darwin among other scientists, 

 and was greatly interested in the Origin of 

 Species. In his own mind were developing, at 

 the same time, important theories, which must 

 be noted in a later chapter. Even as he 

 worked the hardest, and all unknown to him- 

 self in large measure, his own mind was being 

 broadened and deepened. He saw before him 

 now something of the possibilities of plant 

 creation- — his vision was strong and true, 

 his perspective never distorted. 



There came another red-letter day in his 

 calendar. It was the day when he came to the 

 formal decision that he would give up his 

 nursery business and devote his entire time 

 and energies to plant -breeding. As soon as his 



18 



