JOSEPH PLANTING THE GARDEN 97 
them then tO' rest snugly. But gardeners have 
learned to sow and resow the seeds of cultivated 
flowersj that they may not pass out of sight with 
their natural season of blooming. 
Joseph hears that there are little tricks of nip- 
ping off flowers before they form seeds^ and, by so 
doing, keeping the plants blooming longer than 
their natural season, for, above all, a plant desires 
to make seeds. The flower which is seen and be- 
loved by people is really only a means of making 
the more important seeds, which then, the plant con- 
trives to sow in order that its existence may be con- 
tinued from year to year. It seems a little melan- 
choly to me to keep the plants longing to make and 
sow their seed until, perhaps, they are caught by the 
frost without their object in life having been ac- 
complished. Still, a garden whose flowers had 
early ceased to bloom would not be pretty. In fact, 
it is gardeners now who attend to the reappearance 
of plants year after year, by sowing the seed, and 
Joseph finds he must follow their ways, although 
at times he may think them unnatural and heart- 
less. 
The most important perennials that Joseph 
bought, or had given to him, were phloxes, golden 
glow, larkspurs, irises, and chrysanthemums. In 
addition to those he already had, and with his an- 
nuals, the garden will be started very well. 
I cannot describe every place in the triangle that 
he has planted. He has placed each plant where 
