154 TRE ASSOCIATIORS OF FLOWERS 
coming more rare. A passage often quoted from St. 
Jerome says that in his day you could not go into the 
country but you might hear the pioughman at his halle- 
lujahs, the mower at his hymns, and the vine-dresser 
singing David^s psalms.” In Germany the song of the 
labourer may be still always heard; and one might as well 
expect to wander in the country and to find the birds all 
silent, as to hear no human voice in song where the labours 
of the field are going forward. 
The pretty little pimpernel is quite a village favourite, 
from its usefulness in foretelling the approach of rain. 
Its power of closing its petals in damp wealher is known 
to many country people ; and when clouds are passing over 
the blue sky, villagers often refer to it to ascertain whether 
they are likely to discharge their contents upon the earth. 
Darwin enumerates the shutting up of the flower among 
the signs of rain : 
“ Closed is the pink-eyed pimpernel, 
In fiery red the sun doth rise. 
Then wades through clouds to mount the skies ; 
’Twill surely rain, we see’t with sorrow — 
No working in the fields to-morrow.” 
When the rain continues, however, for many days toge- 
ther, the pimpernel loses its sensibility, and fails to give 
its signal to the husbandman. 
The closing of this, and other flowers similarly consti- 
tuted in this respect, is among the many indications of 
atmospheric changes which enable the intelligent country- 
man as confidently to predict them as the sailor knows by 
the winds and waves, and the sounds of ocean birds, that 
a storm is coming. 
Remarkable as is the circumstance of the flowers antici- 
pating rain by hiding themselves in their chalices, still 
more singular is the habit of the Siberian sow-thistle 
(Sonchus sibiricus). This plant, during that clear weather 
wNich is generally favourable to flowers, never uncloses; 
but let a thick mist overspread the atmosphere, or a cloud 
arise large enough to drive home the honey-bee, and it 
will soon unfold its light-blue blossoms. 
