THE COMMCN MARIGOLD, 63 
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a “sunflower,” and, in common with the helianthus, 
is said never to turn its face from that part of the heavens 
where the sun is, whether seen or invisible. In the 
“Winter’s ale,’ Shakespeare speaks of “ the marigold 
that goes to bed with the sun and with him rises weep- 
ing,’ a state of things that necessitates the facing of the 
flower to the northern regions of the heavens all through 
the night. One of the most beautiful of the poetical 
fancies, founded on the idea of a Hower following the sun, 
is the little poem by George Wither :— 
“ When, with a serious musing, I behold 
The gratefull and obsequious marigold, 
How duely, evry morning, she displayes 
Her open brest, when Titan spreads his rayes ; 
How she observes him in his daily walke, 
Still bending towards him her tender stalke ; 
How when he downe declines, she droopes and mournes, 
Bedew’'d (as ‘t were) with teares, till he returnes ; 
And how she vailes her flow'rs, when he is gone, 
As if she scorned to be looked on 
By an inferiour eye; or, did contemne 
To wayt upon a meaner leht, then him. 
When this I meditate, me-thinkes, the flowers 
Have spirits, farre more generous then ours; 
And give us fair examples, to despise 
The servile fawnings, and idolatries, 
Wherewith we court these earthly things below, 
Which merit not the service we bestow.” 
Florists’ marigolds are very delicate things. The Afr- 
cans we will not speak of, because anybody can grow them, 
and they are horribly coarse; but the French are delicate 
things, and worthy of all reasonable care to ensure fine 
quality. And yet with these the chief matter is to get 
good seed, for the qualities the severe judges of flowers 
