The Dial of Flowers. 
U NDER the heading of “ Holy Flowers ” is portrayed the 
felicitous manner in which the monks have formed a 
calendar out of flowers ; but not to the monks only are we 
indebted fora floral register, as the following excerpt from the 
“ Garden ” of Andrew Marvell testifies : 
“ How well the skilful gardener drew 
Of flowers and herbs this dial new ! 
Where, from above, the milder sun 
Does through a fragrant zodiac run; 
And, as it works, the industrious bee 
Computes its time as well as we. 
How could such sweet and wholesome hours 
Be reckoned but with herbs and flowers?” 
The celebrated Linnaeus was so intimate with the habits of 
his floral friends, that he was enabled to form a dial of flowers, 
which marked the hours of day so accurately by their various 
times of opening and closing, that the great botanist scarcely 
needed any other chronometer. 
He planted certain flowers in such a manner and situation 
that at each succeeding hour a blossom should unfold or close ; 
and thus, from morn till eve, his accustomed eye was enabled 
to read the time b} r this delicate monitor. Many works have 
given directions as to what plants should be used to form 
similar dials of; but as few possess the botanical knowledge 
and experience of the great Swede, it is probable that their 
floral timepieces may often get out of order, especially as the 
accuracy of their movements depends so much upon the condi¬ 
tion of the soil and the temperature of the atmosphere. 
