WEATHER-WISE PLANTS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3133, 4 September 1922, Page 8

WEATHER-WISE PLANTS.

(By a Flower Lover). The lover, of garden and hedgerow cannot but be aware that many plants have their own peculiar habits. Occultists tell us that the vegetable kingdom has a certain capacity to express emotion, that it stands between the mineral kingdom and the anir~'il world, more advanced than the former, not so developed as the latter, and I read in a serious paper last year that flower and vegetables suffer if roughly handled. It is not, perhaps, necessary to take such a statement seriously at the present stago of our knowledge, but many quite casual observers must have noticed that, while some flowers love the sun, others avoid it, that few prefer tlie night to the day, that while most plants do nob respond to sun. others avoid it, that a few prefer the night to action. For example, the dandelion sometimes closes its petals against the sun and contracts its downy seed bearers in damp weather. If rain is coming, the anemone, that delicate jewel of the spring woods, closes her flowers; at nightfall she docs the same. The pimpernel, for all the years 1 can remember, has been an advocate of tho early-closing movement, and sets an example by retiring at about 3 p.m. The morning suffices her, but even in the morning will withdraw her charms from sight should a storm threaten. She is known in many a village as "the poor man's weather glass." The leaves of some of the trefoils arc equally sensitive. Certain plants are unabashed sun lovers, and will turn to catch all the light he has to spare for them. Naturally the sun-flower leaps to the mind in this connection; the heliotro[>e does the same; and then there is the marigold "that goes to bed with the sun, and with him rises.'

Wood sorrel must rank among the sensitive plants, and beautiful escholzia. closes with the eventide. On tho other hand, there are flowers like Jie evening primrose that wait for sunset, and there are the campanulas that draw the night-working bees, and tho tobacco plant with its faint subtle, and characteristic perfume, and the evening campion, with its white or pink flowers.

I think that most of us who claim to be garden workers and garden lovers realise that there is a world of difference in the character and tastes of flowers. Somo arc full of modest.v. others are prodigal of their beauty, somo care for nothing and flaunt defiantly along the garden ways, others are nervously sensitive, the threat of a cloud can make them droop. <There is the flower that takes note of the advice about early rising—tho daisy is an example; there aro the flowers that run their own night clubs, and Won't go to bed before tho lark is shaking the dew from his wings as ho mounts in spirals to his place at Lauds. There are flowers that supplant the barometer, and the country folk, particularly the older generation, read them more readily than they read a book, and surprise tho town dwellers with the accuracy of their forecasting. A study of tlie habits of plants is the beginning of wisdom in the garden, for wo learn how to plant so that the tendency of each may be encouraged, and we know that unless of flower is able to follow its own inclination it will not be seen at its best.