"John go-to-bed at noon," from its closing at mid-day; and at the Cape
of Good Hope there is a "four o'clock flower," because it invariably
closes at that time. The common daisy is, however, a readier example,
its name being a compound of day's and eye--Day's-eye, in which
way, indeed, it is written by Ben Johnson. It regularly shuts after
sun-set, to expand again with the morning light. Thus,--

The little dazie, that at evening closes.

Spenser.

By a daisy, whose leaves spread,
Shut when Titian goes to bed.--_G. Withers._

Leyden sings of moist or rainy weather foretold by daisies. Thus we
may examine a whole field, and not find a daisy open, except such as
have their flowering nearly over, and have in consequence lost their
sensibility.

The daisy is one of the pet flowers of the poets. Chaucer is ecstatic
in its praise, and calls it his "owne hartes' rest;" Burns, "Wee,
modest, crimson-tipped flower;" and Wordsworth, in beautiful and
touching simplicity, has addressed several poems to "the poet's
darling."

Appended to Richard's valuable "Elements," is the _Horologium Florae,_
(timepiece of Flora,) or a table of the hours at which certain plants
expand and shut, at Upsal, 60 deg. north latitude. The earliest Meadow
Salsafy opens from 3 to 4 A.M.; and closes from 9 to 10 A.M. The
latest A.M. is the _Mesembryanthemum Modiflorum,_ (used in the