86 
Chaucer’s derivation of the ‘ Day’s Hye.’ Three legends are assigned to 
the origin of the daisy—one by Chaucer, that Alcestes was turned into a 
daisy ; the second a pseudo-classical one, given in Philip’s Flora Historica ; 
the third a Celtic one, given by Lady Wilkinson and Mrs. Lankester. The 
poetry of the daisy commences with the deep love for the daisy shown by 
Chaucer in many well-known passages. It was celebrated by Hawes 
(temp: H. VII.). It is mentioned by Shakespeare only four times in the 
plays and once in the ‘ Rape of Lucrece.’ It is barely;mentioned by Milton. 
There are a few good notices of the flower in Herrick but none in George 
Herbert. It is almost entirely overlooked by the Poets of the first half 
of the eighteenth century ; but after being brought into notice by Burns, 
is very lovingly sung of by Clare and especially by Wordsworth. Since 
his time almost every Poet has sung of the little fower down to our own 
day. The botany of the daisy is interesting as a good specimen of the 
great family of the Composites. The method by which its ovary is 
fertilised is especially remarkable. It produces double flowers and the 
curious Hen and Chicken daisies, which give an excellent example of the 
interchangeable identity in all parts of a flower. ‘he daisy is used in 
painting, (especially among the early Italian and Flemish painters), in 
Architecture and Heraldry. 1n medicine it has not the same powers that 
it once seems to have had, but it still holds its place as the favourite flower 
of childhood. 
The last evening meeting before our anniversary was held on 
11th of February, when Mr. Broome, well known in the myco- 
logical world, contributed some notes on ‘Fungi found in the 
neighbourhood of Bath’ (vide p. 63). The presence of our 
President, who was able to take the chair, was a subject of 
congratulation. With a few preliminary regrets as to the 
necessity of his enforced absence from the evening meetings 
on account of health, he introduced Mr. Broome as the best 
botanist in Bath, and lamented that so few of the Members took 
an interest in this study. 
A discussion followed, in which the President and others took 
part. The former alluded to the importance of the study of 
fungi in connection with the potato, vine, and silk worm diseases ; 
and touched upon a prevailing opinion that all our epidemics 
were due to the germs of animal and vegetable organisms always 
