The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-05-22
Cur @lio.


Plower-Lore.
A writer ia the Gettysburg Compiler
says:-The other day chanced upon a
dllapidated old book, without a cover,
without title page, and with some Of its
leaves missing, which afforded me seveal
hours Of pleasant entertainment. From
opening to close the pages are head-lined
as follows "The Poetry Of Flowers and the
Flowers Of Poetry" The book abounds
with poetical extracts, good, bad, and in
diherent Scattered through It's pages are
curious aud interesting statements con.
corning flowers, which | traDseribo as
specimens Of ancient hower-lore.
fTo,oers as Bdrometers.-"Some flowers
afford certain means Of determining tho
state Of the atmosphere. Most Of the
bulbous-rooted flowers contract, or close
their petals entirely, on the approach Of
rain. The marigold indicates rain IL the
corrolla Is closed after seven or eight o clock
IN the morning. The common bind weed,
chick weed, wood sOrrel aud others, close
their flowers at the 6rst indications Of rain.
The scarlet pimpernel Is the most sure 10
its indications, as the petals close on the
least humidity Of the atmosphere. Barley
is singularly affected by the moisture or
dryness Of the air. The arms are furnish.
cd with stiff points which extend when
moist and shorten when dry. The capsules
Of the geranium furnish admirable ba-
rometers. Fasten the beard, when fully
ripe, upon a stand, and it will twist or un-
twist itself according as the air is moist OF
dry"
Flocers as Cloeks.-"By tbe opening and
closing Of flowers the time Of the day can
with certainty be determined. The bios,
SONS of the marigold open at nine o'clock
in the morning and close again at three
in the afternoon. The purslape opens al
nine and closes at eleven. The dsndslior
unfolds at five A. NJ. and shuts at =. NJ
This opening and closing at fixed times !,
the habit Of many flowers"
F1o,osTs as lSymJOL.-"In oriental land
flowers almost subserve the use Of writing
expressing, by blossom, joy, grief, hope
sentiment that fills the mind"
"In eastern lands they talk In flowers,
And they tell IN garland their loves aud cares
Each blossom that blooms In the garden bowers
On is leaves a mystic Language bears"
"You may convey your sentiments YER,
well BY single flower. For example:
rosebud, with its thorns aud leaves, is un
dsrstoOd to say, II fear, but hope.
Stripped Of its thorus, ii tells you tha
There is everything to hope" Stripe,
Of its leaves, it says, There is everything
to fear.
"The Ivy is the emblem Of Friendship
Nothing is able to separate the ivy from
the tree around which il has once entwin
ed itself; the companion Of It's destinies, i
falls when the tree is cut down. Deatl
itself does not detach il, but it continue
TO decorate with It's constant yerdure IN
dry trunk it has chosen as its support"
The Dandelion flower Is used for Love
Oracle. If you are separated from th
object Of your affection, gently detach on
Of those transparent spheres; each littl
feather that eomposes it is charged with
tender thought. Turn toward the spo
inhabited by your beloved; blow softly, an,
every little winged traveller, like a faith
ful messenger, shall bear your secret HON
age to her feet, If dOsirous Of knowin
whether the object SO dear thinks of yoI
now you are absent, blow again, and |
there remain one tuft, it is sign you ar
not forgotten.
Names Of foieers-"A celebrated bota
mist, while in the Cordilleras, suddenl
inhaled the most exquisite perfumes. HI
expected to ind some brilliantly colore,
flowers, but only perceived some prett
elumps of an agreeable green, beariuJ
flowers Of Q pale blue color. On approach
ing nearer he observed that the flower
turned gently toward the sun, which they
appeared to regard with reverential love
Struck with this peculiar disposition, b
gave the plant the name of heiiotrope
which is derived from two Greek, words
signifying "sun" and II turn"
at is.related that young couple, VIII,
were on the eve of being united, Will
walking on the banks Of the Danube, sa,
a flower, called by bO,anists an Myosotis,
floating on the waves which seemed ready
to carry il away. The afianced bride ad
mired the beauty Of the aower, and regret
ted It's fatal destiny. The lover was in
duced to precipitate himself into the wa
ter, where he had no sooner seized the
flower then he sank in to the food; bu
making last effort, he threw the Aowe
on the shore, aud at the moment O
disappearing forever, he exclaimed: " Va.
giss mich Richf," since which time thi
flower has been made emblematical, aud
taken the name Of "Forgst-n,e.not." ("