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Personality of plants

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PERSONALITY OF PLANTS<br />

heat and power. In a desert region, animals<br />

soon perish, because even carnivorous species<br />

live on herbivorous fellows which in turn are<br />

eaters <strong>of</strong> <strong>plants</strong>. This is why the distribution <strong>of</strong><br />

men and animals is so greatly influenced by<br />

that <strong>of</strong> <strong>plants</strong>.<br />

For clothing man depends partly upon such<br />

plant-products as Cotton and Flax and partly<br />

on plant-fed animals which yield him silk, wool<br />

and leather. The great plant structures <strong>of</strong> the<br />

forest give him the chief materials which go<br />

into the construction <strong>of</strong> his ships and houses,<br />

with all their appurtenances. The bodies <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>plants</strong>, recently alive or the bodies <strong>of</strong> <strong>plants</strong><br />

long since dead furnish fuel for cooking, heat-<br />

ing and power. Drugs are very largely <strong>of</strong><br />

vegetable origin. In brief, the <strong>plants</strong> feed,<br />

clothe, shelter, and warm mankind.<br />

Man has made many <strong>plants</strong> his servants. His<br />

first attention was naturally given to such<br />

species as he could use for food. Two thousand<br />

years ago, the ancients were growing practically<br />

all the food <strong>plants</strong> that are known today. Maize,<br />

Potatoes, Rice, Beans, Dates and Bananas have<br />

been cultivated for an even longer period.<br />

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