256 The Daisy. 



Phillips says that this flowering weed of temperate climates 

 cannot be made to flourish between the tropics, although it 

 propagates itself on every patch of turf in colder places ; as it 

 failed to spangle the fields of the south-east of Europe, where 

 the arts were anciently so happily nurtured, it happens that we 

 have no Greek name for this plant, and hence must have re- 

 course to a Latin one. Its roots, boiled in milk, were frequently 

 given to little puppies to keep them of a diminutive size ; but 

 what effect this food would have on the growth of the canine 

 species, we must leave it to those who are curious Mn little dogs 

 to discover. Fabulous history informs us that this plant is called 

 Bellis, because it owes its origin to Belides, a grand-daughter of 

 Danaus, and one of the nymphs called Dryads, that presided over 

 the meadows and pastures in ancient times. Belides is said to 

 have encouraged the suit of Ephigeus, but whilst dancing on the 

 grass with this rural deity, she attracted the admiration of Yertum- 

 nus, who, just as he was about to seize her in his embrace, saw 

 her transformed into the humble plant that now bears her name. 

 An old astrological writer tells us that this plant is under the sign 

 Cancer, and under the dominion of Venus, and therefore good to 

 cure all the pains caused by the fair goddess, particularly those 

 of the breast ; we therefore recommend all lack-a-daisical swains 

 to hasten to the meadows and there give thanks to nature for 

 having seasoned this crop so bountifully. It is a crop for which 

 the fanner never prays, it being considered a troublesome weed 

 in pasture lands, where it occupies a large portion of ground to 

 the exclusion of grass and other useful herbs ; its acrid taste is 

 ungrateful to cattle, and it is even rejected on the common by 

 the close biting geese. The most careless observer of plants 

 must have noticed that the Daisy not only closes its petals at 

 night, but that they are carefully folded over the yellow disk in 

 rainy weather. It must likewise have struck the attention of 

 the curious that not only this flower, but most others which are 

 natives of moist climates, have the power and instinct of secur- 

 ing their parts of fructification from the rains of the day or dews 

 of the night, whilst those of regular dry climates are quite desti- 

 tute of this wise provision of nature. The botanist would under- 

 stand the nature of the Daisy by the class and order we have 

 given, although he might not have seen it. The Daisy, continues 

 Phillips, has been placed in the class Syngenesia, because it is a 



