THE DAISY. 
We presume that this flower was called daisy or day’s- 
eye, from the nature of its blossom, which expands at the 
opening of day and closes at sunset. 
The little duzie that at evening closes. 
Spenser. 
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 carefully 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 
/rom the rains of the day or the dews of the night, whilst 
those of regular dry climates are quite destitute of this wise 
provision of nature. 
By dimpled brook and fountain brim, 
The wood-nymphs, deck’d with daisies trim, 
Their merry wakes and pastimes keep. 
Milton’s Comus. 
■-in the spring and play-time of the year, 
That calls the unwonted villager abroad 
With all her little ones, a sportive train, 
(71) 
