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 blanch’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 wa 
so peculiarly his :— 
“ But right as floures through the cold of night 
Iclosed, stoupen in her stalkes lowe, 
Redressen hem agen the sunne bright, 
And spreden in her kinde course by rowe.” 
Troil. 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 a 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 
