394 FLORA HtSTORICA. 



** The Maryg-old, that goes to bed with the sun. 

 And with him rises weeping." 



Shakspeare. 



•* See the day is waxen olde. 



And 'gins to shut in with the Marygold." 



W. Brown. 



It is remarked by Linnaeus, that the Marygold 

 usually opens its petals about nine in the morn- 

 ing, and closes them again at three in the after- 

 noon ; but we observe that it depends more upon 

 the state of the atmosphere than on the hour of 

 the day. 



Keats says — 



" Open afresh your round of starry folds, 

 Ye ardent Marigolds ! 

 Dry up the moisture of your golden lids. 

 For great Apollo bids." 



The African and French Marygolds usually 

 begin to flower in July, and continue to give 

 out a succession of blossoms until the branches 

 are destroyed by frost ; on which account they are 

 considered rather an autumnal than a summer 

 flower, and when judiciously planted they add 

 considerably to the gaiety of the parterre during 

 the later riionths of the year; the tall African 

 Marygold forming a brilliant back-ground to 



