THE SHASTA DAISY 



In the scheme laid out for the new daisy 

 there were certain well-defined characteristics 

 to be developed; a fact that illustrates how 

 systematic and precise his work. He wished a 

 daisy that should have grace, beauty, hardi- 

 ness. He wanted a slender but firm stem at 

 least two feet in length, free from all branches; 

 a blossom larger than any daisy ever before 

 seen ; petals of the purest white. And so seeds 

 from these plants from distant quarters of the 

 globe were sown, and when they came to 

 blossom he crossed them, combining each with 

 the other, joining them in a union as intimate 

 as life, as powerful as death. For he was 

 compelled to put to death their old selves ; 

 — their life - long habits, their manner of 

 life, — even their form and texture, all must 

 give way; — and from this death he would 

 bring forth a resurrection. 



So completely was the pollinating done 

 that after the merging was ended the strain of 

 blood, so to call it, of each plant now flowed 

 in the veins of one. And yet this act of 

 fertilization or hybridization or new birth, call 

 it what you will, was but an incident in the 

 creation — the great struggle was ahead. 



135 



