PLANTS THAT TELL TIME 105 



the time of day. Nor was the scheme original with 

 Linnaeus, for, although to him is given the credit 

 for this idea, there is a passage in Marvell's poem, 

 "The Garden," which tells 'the story of another who 

 had planned his flower clock before ever Linnaeus 

 saw the light of day: 



"How well the skilful gardener drew, 

 Of flowers and herbs, this dial knew ! 

 Where, from above, the milder sun, 

 Does through a fragrant Zodiac run, 

 And, as it works, the industrious bee 

 Computes its time as well as we. 

 How could such sweet and wholesome hours 

 Be reckoned but with herbs and flowers !" 



Any one whose childhood has been spent in the 

 woods and fields of the countryside will recall the 

 familiar name of the common goat's-beard, "Go-to- 

 bed-at-noon." But there is no hour in the day that 

 has not some flower to mark it! 



Beginning long before the sun, we find the 

 goat's-beard opening between the hours of three and 

 five in the morning. Promptly at four, the late- 

 flowering dandelion opens; while at various min- 

 utes between four and five at least three plants, 

 the hawkw^eed picris, Alpine hawk's-beard, and wild 

 succory, awake to greet the first rays of the morn- 

 ing sun. 



At five, usually with the striking of the hour, 



