"In my garden is an azerolier, which in the Fall is hung 

 with little scarlet berries of the richest lustre. I have 

 given several cuttings from it : far from obtaining plea- 

 sure from the privation of others, I strive to scatter and 

 make common the trees and plants which I love ; it is to 

 me, as to those who really love flowers for their brilliance, 

 their grace, and their perfume, a multiplication of plea- 

 sure, and of the chance of seeing them. They who, on the 

 contrary, are misers of their plants, and who only value 

 them in so far as they are satisfied no one else possesses 

 them, do not love flowers; and rest assured that either 

 accident or poverty has driven them to collect flowers, 

 instead of collecting pictures, gems, or medals, or in a word 

 any other thing which might serve as a pretext for all the 

 joys of possession, heightened by their being owned by no 

 one else." — Alphonse Karr. 



