26 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



the declining year all their starry flowers. Dante alludes 

 to the struggle of flowers with frost in the second canto 

 of the first book of the " Divine Comedy," as represent- 

 ing his own case when overcome by the inspiration of 

 Beatrice : - 



" As florets, by the frosty air of night 



Bent down and clos'd, when day has hlanch'd their leaves, 



Rise all unfolded on their spiry stems ; 



So was my fainting vigour new restor'd, 



And to my heart such kindly courage ran, 



That I as one undaunted soon replied.'' 



Chaucer had made note of the fact as a theme for 

 poetry, and it touched the vein of tenderness which was 

 so peculiarly his : 



" But right as floures through the cold of night 



Iclosed, stoupen in her stalkes lowe, 

 Hedressen hem agen the sunne bright, 



And spreden in her kinde course by rowe." 



Trail, and Cress. II. 



A large proportion of the plants classed as Michaelmas 

 daisies are natives of North America, and therefore are 

 hardy enough for any part of the British Isles. They 

 may be more properly regarded as perennial asters, for 

 such they are when their season of flowering, as remarked 

 above, is of some four or five months' duration. They 

 are among the most accommodating plants of their class 

 known, being truly indifferent as to soil and situation, 

 provided they have something to live on and are blessed 

 with H glimpse of sunshine at some part of the day. 

 But they are like many other accommodating plants in 

 the fact that they make a far finer show of their flowers 

 in a good soil, a pure air, and a sunny situation, than 

 when overshaded by trees and with exhausted earth for 

 their sole sustenance. The larger and bolder kinds are 



