The Daisy. 257 



compound flower, or rather composed of a number of small yellow 

 florets placed on one common receptacle, as so many small cups 

 might be placed on one tray or salver ; for if the thumb or yellow 

 disk of the common Daisy is closely examined, it will be'found 

 to be composed of about one hundred and fifty little florets, 

 those of the centre being of a tubular shape and containing the 

 anthers, whilst those near the margin are ligulatc or of a flat 

 shape, and to each of them is attached a stigma. The use of the 

 petals which form a ray round these little yellow florets is to 

 secure them from the effects of inclement weather, until the pol- 

 len of the anthers is discharged on the stigma so as to prepare 

 seed for future plants ; and when this part of the economy of na- 

 ture is performed, the ray of the Daisy remains expanded, and 

 does not shut when Titan goes to bed, but remains open until 

 the petals decay. 



The single Daisy, which was seized in the meadows and 

 placed in the garden by Vertumnus, being placed out of its natu- 

 ral situation, has taken new habits, which prevent its propaoatin<* 

 itself by seed, as the effect of transplanting and cultivation in 

 richer soils has been that of transforming the yellow florets into 

 petals, until the flower has become so completely doubled as to 

 lose all appearance of the disk ; but, like the double hepatica, it 

 is easily propagated by parting the roots at any season of the 

 year almost, though the most favorable time is from the middle 

 of September to the middle of October, as they will then flower 

 stronger in the spring than 4hose plants which are divided in 

 February. It is recommended to divide the roots every vear, 

 and to transplant them, to avoid degeneration, or more properly 

 speaking, a return to their natural state. We have never ob- 

 served this circumstance take place, but have frequently known 

 the plants decay altogether if left undisturbed for three or four 

 years. The double Daisy thrives best in a moist loam with no 

 mixture of manure; and the plants should have the advantage 

 of the morning sun and a shelter from the mid-day heat, by 

 placing them on the south-east side of shrubs or trees, as in such 

 situations the flowers are not only larger, but continue much 

 longer in blossom than those exposed to the full sun. The mode 

 of placing them depends much on the size and nature of the 

 garden. Sometimes it is employed, as it is generally done 

 by the English cottagers, as an edging for borders, being infi- 

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