THE DAISY. 
“ We presume that this flower was called 
daisy or days-eye, from the nature of its 
blossom, which expands at the opening of day 
and closes at sunset. 
“ The little dazie that at evening closes. 
Sp ensek. 
By a daisy, whose leaves spread 
Shut when Titan goes to bed. 
G. Withers. 
“ The most careless observer of plants must 
have noticed that the daisy not only closes its 
petals at night, but that they are also care¬ 
fully 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, we may 
almost say instinct, of securing their essential 
parts of fructification from the rains of the day 
or the dews of the night, whilst those of re¬ 
gular dry climates are quite destitute of this 
wise provision of nature. 
“ The Latins named this plant Beilis, as 
some suppose from the adjective Bellus; 
while others are of opinion that it was called 
Bellus a hello, from its being found useful in 
the field of battle, to heal the wounds of 
soldiers, on which account it has also been 
called Consolida. 
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