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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  3,  1902. 
dryness  of  the  weather  had  also  to  be  taken  into 
account.  Evidently  opinions  differed,  for  good  old  Tusser 
writes : —  ' 
Sow  Peas  and  Beans  in  the  wane  of  the  moon, 
Who  soweth  them  sooner  he  soweth  too  soon. 
There  is  an  old  belief,  not  traceable  to  any  particular 
country,  that  a  profusion  of  flowers  during  May  is  an 
indication  of  a  rainy  season,  showers  of  flowers  being 
followed  by  actual  showers.  It  has  been  the  case  this 
year,  that  the  rainfall  towards  the  end  of  May  has  had  its 
successor  in  June,  but  the  plentifulness  of  wild  flowers  in 
May  seems  to  have  chiefly  to  do  with  the  moisture  of  early 
spring  and  the  absence  of  very  rough  winds.  Yet  should 
the  rains  of  May  and  June  have  cloudy,  not  sunshiny 
intervals,  vegetation  is  apt  to  develop  an  abundance  of 
leaves  and  stalks,  but  few  flowers.  Wb  see  this  exempli¬ 
fied  in  gardens  and  fields  as  well  as  along  the  lanes. 
Hence,  one  old  saying,  that  a  dripping  June  keeps  things 
in  tune  may  be  queried.  Again,  we  have  also  a  local 
saying,  that  a  wet  May  means  a  fruitful  year  ;  this  may 
depend  partly  upon  the  soil.  Considering  the  matter 
with  regard  to  our  insect  foes,  it  is  certain  that  the  foliage 
of  plants  can  stand  their  attacks  better  in  a  moist  season 
than  in  a  dry  one.  On  the  other  hand,  we  have  the  fact 
that  a  dry  summer  kills  many  insects,  while  they  are 
juvenile  larvae  or  in  the  chrysalis  state,  so  that  is  a  set¬ 
off.  Several  of  the  old  authors  remark  that  it  is  a  good 
sign  if  Midsummer  Day  is  quite  free  from  rain. 
The  great  naturalist,  Linnaeus  contrived  what  he  called 
a  “  floral  clock,”  by  which  flowers  indicated  certain  hours 
of  the  day  and  night,  by  their  expansion  or  closing.  Many 
species,  both  wild  and  garden,  are  remarkably  regular, 
only  those  of  course  which  open  and  shut  with  the  day- 
light  vary  in  tune  with  the  length  of  day.  One  division 
differs  from  the  rest,  because  the  flowers  are  “meteoric,” 
or  in  modern  phrase,  they  are  meteorological,  that  is, 
they  perceive  and  register  the  passing  changes  of  our 
atmosphere.  Such  flowers  notice  the  warmth  or  chilliness 
of  the  air,  and  the  approach  or  presence  of  rain.  When 
the  weather  is  unsettled, 'many  of  those  flowers  which 
should  welcome  the  daylight  remain  with  closed  petals, 
the  common  Daisy  is  a  familiar  instance.  Should  the 
garden  Marigold  fail  to  open  by  seven  on  a  summer  morn- 
fafb  ram  may  be  expected  before  long.  The  familiar 
Dandelion  closes  entirely  when  the  heat  is  excessive,  and 
the  stalks  of  its  down  contract  during  wet  weather,  thus 
avoiding  the  dispersion  of  the  seeds  when  their  after¬ 
growth  might  be  interfered  with.  No  sure  sign  of  ram  is 
given  by  the  shutting  up  of  some  flowers,  which  are 
affected  by  the  passage  overhead  of  a  heavy  cloud,  that  is 
carrying  rain  to  another  district,  but  occasionally  they 
happen  to  be  right. 
No  ear  hath  heard,  no  tongue  can  tell, 
The  virtues  of  the  Pimpernel. 
This  popular  name  belongs  to  several  native  plants,  but 
it  is  supposed  that  the  old  rhyme  above  applies  to  the 
Scarlet  Pimpernel  (Anagallis  arvensis)  a  lovely  flower,  yet 
at  times  conspicuous  upon  some  meadows.  From  years  of 
observation,  I  would  back  this  plant  against  any  arti¬ 
ficial  barometer  as  a  rain  prophet,  for  I  never  knew  any 
shower,  but  a  very  trifling  one,  occur  on  a  day  when  this 
Pimpernel  is  open  in  the  morning.  Hence,  in  the  time  of 
early  English  plant  names,  it  received  that  of  the  Shep¬ 
herd’s  or  Poor  Man’s  Weather-glass.  Though  it  must  be 
remembered  that  the  flowers  usually  close  at  two  or  three 
m  the  afternoon,  irrespective  of  the  weather.  The  plant 
was  esteemed  because  it  was  believed  to  have  the  power 
of  drawing  out  splinters,  and  curing  brain  diseases,  also 
it  was  good  against  witchcraft.  A  still  commoner  plant, 
the  wayside  Chickweed,  comes  near  the  Pimpernel  in 
accuracy.  Lord  Bacon,  who  was  a  keen  observer  of 
natural  objects,  noted  that  if  the  flower  of  it  is  fully 
expanded  no  rain  comes  for  four  hours  or  more  ;  should  it 
entirely  shut  up,  he  warns  the  traveller  to  put  on  his  over¬ 
coat.  Most  of  the  species  of  Trefoil  or  Clover  contract 
their  leaves  at  the  approach  of  bad  weather,  be  it  rain  or 
only  rough  wind.  Such,  too,  is  the  habit  of  the  pretty 
Woodsorrels. 
One  sign  of  rain  is  the  flight  of  the  downy  seeds  from 
the  Coltsfoot,  Dandelion,  and  the  Thistle  tribe  generally, 
when  there  is  no  Avind.  Formerly,  the  heads  of  the 
Fuller’s  Teazle  were  hung  up  in  cottages  with  free  access 
to  the  air.  If  the  weather  was  likely  to  be  cold  and  windy, 
these  heads  turned  smoother,  and  against  moisture  they 
closed  their  prickles.  Then  other  plants,  fresh  or  dried, 
were  brought  indoors,  under  the  belief  that  they  gave 
protection  against  lightning  or  thunderbolts.  Wreaths  of 
wild  Chamomile  were  held  efficacious,  also  a  branch  of  the 
Elder  or  the  Bay  (Laurus  nobilis).  Amongst  curious 
beliefs  connected  with  rain,  was  the  one  that  showers 
could  be  produced  by  setting  Fern  on  fire,  which  Avas 
carried  into  practice  upon  commons  and  in  copses. 
Everybody  has  seen  the  effects  of  hoar  frost  upon  trees 
during  the  winter  months,  Iioav,  after  a  cold  night,  the  ice, 
that  has  clothed  branches  and  twigs  in  Avhite  array, 
descends  when  the  sun  comes  out,  as  a  shower  of  moisture, 
perhaps  to  freeze  again  below.  Besides  the  winter 
droppings,  there  are  other  instances  of  raining  trees. 
Many  of  them  (also  some  rlants)  have  the  power  of  absorb¬ 
ing  a  large  quantity  of  Avater,  which  collects  at  the  points 
where  leaves  join  branches,  and  branches  the  stem  ;  this  is 
finally  discharged  by  drops,  which  gives  the  tree  all  the 
appearance  of  producing  a  shower.  Of  course,  some  drip¬ 
pings  from  tne  trees  are  caused  by  the  work  of  insects. — 
J.  R.  S.  C. 
- - 
Edinburgh  Botanic  Garden  Sixty  Years  Ago. 
“  Immediately  upon  his  entrance  to  the  grounds  the  stranger 
is  struck  Avith  the  luxuriance  and  vigour  of  the  eATergreens,  to 
the  cultivation  of  which  Mr.  William  McNab,  the  able  curator, 
has  devoted  much  attention.  On  the  southern  side  of  the 
garden  there  is  a  large  collection  of  hardy  plants  arranged 
according  to  the  Natural  System  of  Jussieu,  such  as  Ferns, 
Grasses,  labiate,  cruciform,  leguminous,  umbelliferous,  and 
composite  plants,  &c.  Close  to  this  collection  is  a  small  pond, 
containing  Rushes,  Water  Lilies,  &c.,  and  a  ditch  containing 
those  plants,  which  thrive  best  in  such  a  situation.  To  the  north 
of  this  arrangement  is  a.  collection  of  British  plants  arranged 
according  to'  the  Linnsean  or  artificial  system,  with  the  name 
attached  to  each  species.  On  the  eastern  side  are  the  plants 
indigenous  to1  Scotland,  and  on  the  west  a  few  which  are  found 
in  England  and  Ireland,  but  not  in  Scotland.  A  little  to  the 
east  of  this  British  arrangement  is  a  collection  of  Roses.  Pro¬ 
ceeding  northwards  Ave  come  to  a  general  collection  of  hardy 
evergreens,  chiefly  exotic ;  to  the  east  of  which  is  a  collection  of 
medicinal  plants,  with  the  names  and  Natural  Orders  attached. 
We  then  reach  thei  greenhouses.  These  contain  a  large  collection 
of  exotics,  which  thrive  admirably.  The  western  division  con¬ 
tains  Heaths,  Epacridese,  Dryandras,  Proteas,  Grevilleas, 
Diosmas,  &c.,  while  in  the  eastern  division  Ave  have  a  stove 
with  northern  exposure  in  which  epiphytes  are  cultivated  with 
great  success.  In  the  other  greenhouses1  of  the  front  range 
there  are  many  interesting  plants,  among  Avhich  may  be 
mentioned  Plantains,  which  bear  fruit  well,  PapaAv  tree,  Pitcher 
plants,  Papyrus,  Indiarubber  Fig,  Cacti,  Cinnamon,  Tea  plants. 
Amaryllids,  Aroids,  Euphorbias,  Ac.  In  front  of  this  range  of 
houses  is  a  piece  of  ground  on  Avhich  many  of  the  plants  of 
wanner  regions  are  cultivated  in  the  open  air,  being  carefully 
protected  during  Avinter.  Behind  these  houses  is  a  smaller 
range  in  which  numerous  seedlings  are  cultivated,  and  a  large 
Palm  house,  about  45ft  high,  in  which  are  found  Plantains  and 
Bananas,  Sago  Palms,  Fan  Palms,  Cabbage  Palms,  Date  Palms, 
Cocoa-nut  trees,  Sugar-cane,  Bamboos,  ScreAv  Pines,  Ac.  The 
houses  are  heated  partly  by  hot  Avater  and  partly  by  steam.  From 
the  top  of  the  boiler  house  there  is  a  fine  vieAV  of  Edinburgh. 
Against  the  high  northern  wall  of  the  garden,  having  a  south 
aspect,  many  valuable  exotics  are  trained,  as  Magnolias,  Acacias, 
Ecbvardsias,  Camellias,  Myrtles,  Eucalypti,  Ac.  The  garden 
embraces  an  extent  of  '  14}  English  acres.”  —  (“  Blackie’s 
Picturesque  Tourist  of  Scotland,  1846.”) 
