PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 399 



soil, springing up jear after year ; seed sown in May, almost upon 

 the surface of the soil. Among the curious annuals is the 

 mimosa, or sensitive plant ; this singular plant closes its leaves 

 upon the slightest touch. 



"Weak, with nice sense, the chaste mimosa stands. 

 From each rude touch withdraws her tender hands." 



Seed sown in the open ground in May, in rich soil. Mesembry- 

 anthemum, or ice plant ; this curious plant has thick leaves, 

 Avhich have the appearance of being covered wdth ice ; very 

 ornamental for vases ; seed sown in May. Loasa Acanthifolia, a 

 running vine, with curious yellow flowers ; the stem and leaves 

 are covered with hairs or email bristles, which, on being touched, 

 leave a stinging sensation similar to nettles ; seed soAvn in May. 

 Coix Lachryma, or Jacob's Tears, a kind of ornamental grass ; it 

 is called Jacob's Tears on account of its shining, pearly seed, 

 which, by a considerable stretch of the imagination, may be 

 likened to a falling tear ; seed sown in May, half an inch deep. 

 Anagalis or Pimpernel, a dwarf trailing plant, with blue and pink 

 flowers ; the Anagalis has been termed the poor man's barometer, 

 on account of its closing its flowers at the approach of rain, 



" The walls are damp, the ditches smell. 

 Closed is the blue eyed pimpernel." 



Not only does the pimpernel close its flowers, when exposed to 

 damp air, but many other plants are equally sensitive. Stellaria 

 media, or chickweed, and many others, close their flowers at the 

 approach of rain. Mirabilis jalapa, commonly called four-o'clocks, 

 from closing its flowers in the evening. Mirabilis is a Latin word 

 for wonderful. The roots of this plant, Avhen dried, form the 

 principal constituent of the jalap of druggists ; it is generally 

 considered an annual; it has large tuberous roots, which, if 

 taken up in October and stored in a dry cellar, will flower the 

 second season; seed sown in April flowers 'in June. Zinnias, one 

 of the most showy annuals in cultivation, flowers brilliant scarlet, 

 orange, white and light purple ; seed sown in May blooms in 

 July; easily transplanted. The new doubled-flowered zinnia 

 makes a splendid addition to this variety of annual flowers ; the 

 petals are imbricated like a double French marigold. When 

 annuals are grown in masses, a very pretty effect may be had by 

 planting two or three varieties together ; thus, the scarlet, blue 

 and white, produced by the scarlet verbena, nemophilia insignis, 

 and sweet alyssium, the verbenas forming the outline, the alyssium 

 next, and the nemophila in the center, forming a perfect star- 



