Flowers and Gardens 



contrary, is just the very tint which water 

 possesses characteristically in common with 

 the vegetable world, and has the further 

 advantage of being cool and shadowy to 

 the utmost degree that is compatible with 

 the appearance of an active vegetable life. 

 And let it be observed that there are 

 other points in the Daffodil which contri- 

 bute to assist the suggestion we have 

 indicated, such as the softness and juici- 

 ness of its textures, and the smooth, 

 uniform, striped appearance which arises 

 from the straightness of its long narrow 

 leaves.^ All these combine to give us 

 a sort of natural symbolism. We may 

 almost say that these leaves are sym- 

 bolical of water, representing as they do 

 its delicious coolness, its smooth unifor- 

 mity of surface, and the power which it 

 has of becoming deep blue-green. 



Before proceeding further, let us try to 

 get at the exact meaning of the term 

 freshness. Freshness then is simply life- 

 fulness, or the outward expression or 

 manifestation of activity or vital power. 



^ This striped appearance will be easily understood if 

 we look at a cluster of Daffodils a little distance away 

 from us. Near at hand the same effect is carried out by 

 the parallel veining, and other characteristics I have 

 mentioned. The imagination blends both effects to- 

 gether when we form our conception of the plant. 



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