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Personality of plants

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PERSONALITY OF PLANTS<br />

bring her ruddy cheeks. The Romans used the<br />

Rose as the symbol <strong>of</strong> love for the dead. They<br />

placed it extensively on their tombs.<br />

In the past, there have arisen rumours <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>plants</strong> <strong>of</strong> wondrous properties which have been<br />

the mere inventions <strong>of</strong> glory-seeking travelers.<br />

Sir John Mandeville was a famous <strong>of</strong>fender<br />

who even issued reports <strong>of</strong> trees which produced<br />

live animals in their fruits.<br />

The old Greeks used to decorate their tombs<br />

with Parsley. When a person was dangerous-<br />

ly ill, it was <strong>of</strong>ten said, "He has need now <strong>of</strong><br />

nothing but Parsley."<br />

The humble Bean has at times been afforded<br />

superstitious reverence. It is said that Pytha-<br />

goras forbade his disciples to eat it.<br />

The anxiety to secure good crops has led to<br />

many superstitious practices. In the pagan days<br />

<strong>of</strong> Germany and likewise in Rome, an image<br />

was carried around each field in order to insure<br />

its fertility. After the introduction <strong>of</strong> Chris-<br />

tianity, the image <strong>of</strong> a saint was substituted for<br />

the heathen deity, and the practice continued.<br />

Again and again, the Onion, whose name<br />

today is only mentioned with bated breath,<br />

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