MISCELLANEOUS SECTION. 285 



it was two o'clock, because at that time, together with a thousand other 

 stout gentlemen, and with the yellow Mouse-ear, I always fell asleep ; 

 but at three o'clock in the afternoon, and at three in the morning, I 

 awoke as regularly as though I was a repeater. Thus we mortals may 

 be a flower-clock for higher beings, when our flower-leaves close upon 

 our last bed ; or sand-clocks, when the sand of our life is so run down 

 that it is renewed in the other world ; or picture-clocks, because, when 

 our death-bell here below strikes and rings, our image steps forth from 

 its case into the next world. On each event of the kind, when seventy 

 years of human life have passed away, they may perhaps say, ' What ! 

 another hour already gone ! how the time flies ! ' 



" The closing of flowers also follows a periodical law. Most flowers 

 close during darkness. Some close even in day-light. Thus the Salsafy 

 shuts up its head of flowers about mid-day, and the Chicory about four 

 in the afternoon. Many flowers are affected by the nature of the day 

 as regards moisture, dryness, cloudiness, or clearness. In cloudy and 

 rainy weather, the flowers of the Scarlet Pimpernel, called Poor-man's 

 "Weather-glass, remain closed. So also do the heads of flowers of the 

 Daisy, Dandelion, and other composite plants. By this means the 

 essential organs of the flower are protected from injury. The direc- 

 tion of the flowers of some plants seems to be influenced by the sun's 

 rays ; and the name Girasole, or Sunflower, was given, from an impres- 

 sion that the heads of flowers inclined towards the part of the heavens 

 where the sun was shining. This does not, however, appear to be the 

 case with the Sunflower, as grown in this country. 



" The diurnal periods in flowering are alluded to by the poet in the 

 following lines : — 



" ' In every copse and sheltered dell, 

 Unveiled to the observant eye, 

 Are faithful monitors who tell, 



How pass the hours and seasons by. 

 " ' The green-robed children of the spring 

 Will mark the periods as they pass, 

 Mingle with leaves Time's feathered wing, 

 And bind with flowers his silent glass. 

 " ' See Hieracium's various tribes 



Of plumy fruit and radiant flowers, 

 The course of time their blooms describe, 

 And wake and sleep appointed hours. 

 " ' Broad o'er its imbricated cup 



The Goatsbeard spreads its purple rays, 

 But shuts its cautious florets up, 

 Retiring from the noontide blaze. 



" ' On upland shores the shepherd marks 

 The hour when, as the dial true, 

 Cichorium to the lowering lark 

 Lifts her soft eyes serenely blue. 

 " ' Thus, in each flower and simple bell 

 That in our patli betrodden lie, 

 Are sweet remembrancers, who tell 



How fast the winged moments fly ! ' " L. 



