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Flowers aitd Plants 



July 15. — S. Swithun, Bishop of Winchester. Small 

 Cape Marigold. Calendula pluvialis. 

 S. Swithun was consecrated Bishop in 8j2, and 

 died in 862. He expressed a wish before dying 

 that he might be buried in the cemetery, instead of 

 in the Church, as the Bishops always were, that 

 ^'the rain might drop upon his grave; thinking no 

 vault so good as the vault of heaven." According 

 to the legend, the monks wished to remove his 

 body to a more honourable resting-place, but were 

 compelled to relinquish the idea in consequence of 

 the heavy rain, which lasted for forty days. This 

 was construed into an expression of displeasure on 

 the part of the saint; and from this circumstance 

 has arisen the popular notion, that if it rains on 

 S. Swithun's day, it will rain for forty days and 

 nights. Many miracles being reported to have been 

 done at his grave, a chapel was built over it, and a 

 solemn translation made in honour of him, which 

 was this day celebrated. 



July 20. — S. Margaret, Virgin and Martyr. Vir- 



