6 THE OPEN BOOK OF NATURE 
room, which was also increased by the growth” of 
more and ever more rosettes of leaves from the 
stems of the parent plants. Wherever my kind got 
a good hold they henceforth flourished. 
“My family very early learned that union is 
strength. They saw that individual daisies could 
not hold their own, and that if they would succeed 
in life they’ must co-operate. So they formed 
colonies, not only of plants, but also of flowers. 
“You will see that my compound flower-head is 
really a colony of little fowers. Just as in ancient 
times daisy leaves combined to form a rosette, and 
daisy plants joined to form powerful colonies, so 
daisy flowers gave up the idea of lonely life, and 
adopted the colonial practice, which you may notice 
is of quite an advanced nature. 
“Look at my white ray florets. They are very 
easily seen. They serve more than one purpose ; 
they are advertising agents ; they let my friends the 
insects know that I am here, for some insects are. 
very useful to me. They come to me for a little 
food, which I very willingly give them, and as they 
get their little dainties they dust themselves with 
my tiny pollen grains, which they carry to and leave 
on other daisy plants. These pollen grains are full 
of a wonderful life-force, which makes our seeds 
grow and be productive of new daisy plants. Then 
when night comes.on, or it is a cold and cloudy day, 
these white ray flowers fold their petals over my 
yellow and more delicate florets, and keep them 
warm. 
‘* My yellow florets do the real business of my life. 
They produce pollen and seeds, and provide for the 
