JUNE, 121 



is, by some commentators, tliouglit to be here 

 intended. 



That very common flower, the scarlet pim- 

 pernel, {Anagallis arvensis,) is now smiling by 

 the road side ; it is perhaps better known as 

 the poor man's Awather-glass, or shepherd's 

 barometer ; both names given on account oi 

 its closing before rain. This peculiarity was 

 noticed many years since, and Gerarde thus 

 writes of the pimpernel : " These plants in sum- 

 mer, and especially in the month of August, 

 at what time the husbandmen, having occasion 

 to go to their harvest work, will first behold 

 the flower of pimpernel, whereby they know the 

 weather that will follow the next day after ; as 

 for example, if the flowers be close shut up, it 

 betokencth rain and foul weather ; contrariwise, 

 if they be opened abroad, fine weather." Though 

 we must not expect so much from the pimper- 

 nel as this would promise, yet it is more to be 

 depended on than other wild flowers, which 

 close before rain. It must be remembered, 

 too, that it closes up for the day by twelve 

 o'clock, however bright the sunshine. 



The flax {lAmnn vsitatissnm) is now in 

 bloom in many wild places. The pale blue erect 

 bell is very frail, falling off" even at the touch. 

 This is a plant of much interest. The strong 

 fibres of its bark form the valual.)le flax of com- 

 merce ; these fibres, when separated from the 

 plant, compose the tow, which being spun into 

 yarn, is afterwards woven into linen. The 

 stalks require macerating, in order to separate 



