Wichita eagle., 1888-07-28
T CARDINAL POINTS
HOW FOUND IN THE DAY TINE
WITHOUT A COMPASS.

sunfiower, the MarigoId, the Compass
Plant, the Tree aud the Rock a. Use
full Guides.
The most natural guide in the day time tt
the cardinal points which would suggest itsen
to the mind of the average individual would
be the sun. So long as the sun Shines be
would reason the wayfaring man, though a
fool, need not err in the direction he desires
to take, In whatever situation he may be
placed
1t is well known physical fact, Of course
that the sun is continually on the move The
point on the horizon on which it appears in
the morning is directly opposite to that
where it vanishcs in the evening. The direc-
ton which it is in at any time between two
or three hours after sunrise and the same
length OF time before sunset is not easy at all
times for the ordinary person to figure out,
unless he has a watch or is surrounded with
landmarks with which he is perfectly fanil-
lar.
The average person, if cast adrift in q
small boat On the ocean or on any of the
large lakes, would discover it to be very
nearly as difficult to tell which point of the
horizon was north, or east, or south, or west,
! even though the sun was shining, as he
would during the night. The same remark
is true OF the average person travelling on the
! prairie or the desert
SUNFLowER AND MARIGOLD.
Several species OF flowers may be said to be
/ guides, in general way, to the points of the
compass. That is to say, they afford hint
as to the direction which tho sun is in when
that orb may be hidden from view by any OBJ
/ A ba md bS
marigold. These flowers generally keep their
faces toward the sun when it is visible, turn
ing toward it when it rises, and following its
movements as 1t sweeps across the horizon
until it disappears below the western horizon.
Ii the direction in which these flowers faces
point 90 followed by the eye the sun will
often be seen If the time be during the day
light hours. To be sure, that lumnary,
when it is in the immediate vicinity, usually
makes its presence manifest without the aid
OF the suntiOwer, the marigold, or any other
member of the vegetable or animal kingdom.
There are occasions, however, when a knowl-
edge of these qualities Of the plants named
may possibly be useful In giving hint as to
the direction the sun is in from the observer
The possession of these attributes certainly
gives these plants an interest and Importance
Of course, when the sun is found the direc-
ton may be traced as before indicated. To
this extent, therefore, the sunf1ower and the
marigold may be fairly included among the
guides to the points of the compass.
The sunfiower, the marigold, and plants Of
their class, it may be said, are, in negative
sense only, guides to direction. They simply
lead the eye to the point where the sun is
ha,, thnt T..
hidden from view by an intervening build
ing, tree, hill or other object, and the suns
position being known, it becomes possible to
figure out" the points. There is certain
flower, however, which is positive guide to
the cardinal points. This is the compass
plant. Most persons who have Travelled for
any considerable distance in Illinois, Mis-
souri,, Iowa or Kansas, have noticed plant
producing several stems from single root,
the two or three central stems ranging from
four to six feet in height, bearing upon their
upper extremity bright yellow flowers. The
upper leaves Of this plant are erect, and usu-
ally stand with their edges pointing north
and south This popularity gives it the name
OF polar plant, pilot weed, or compass plant.
Locally, however, it is given the less poeticaI /
designation of ''rosin weed, on account of
the juice which exudes from it. It's botani- |
cal name is silphium laciniatum. Although I
most numerous in the states mentioned, the
compass plant is seen as far east as Ohio and |
Michigan, and as far west as the states bor-
dering on the Pacific ocean. Wherever found
it may be relisd on as trustworthy guide in
locating the points of the compass.
TREES AND ROCKS AS GUIDES
Trees and rocks are also useful in indica-
ting the cardinal points Lichens and moses.
when found on trees or rocks, are densest ON
the north side. When tree or rock stand so
that the sun strikes them during a larger part
Of the day, neither iichen nor moss, generally
speaking, will be found OH the south side.
The tendency of these growths to cling to the
south side increases in the proportion with
which the sun is DISTRACTED from shining on
them. Trees or rocks in dense forest may
have moss on all sides of them, but even
there the thickeSt growth is on the north
side OF course the principal cause of this
popularity is that the sun rarely strikes the
north side Of any large object, and then only
,or short time in the morning and evening.
Moses and Echens thrive best In the shade. Il
When tree stands in a position in which
he sunlight can reach it through most Of tho
lay the limbs on one side of it will usually
De much heavier than those on the other.
The side upon which the heavy growth is on :
5 the south side. A rock in similar position
will be darker on one side than the other. :
The dark side is on the south. In connection
With the rock it should be understood that it
s the rock itself and not any of the growths
lpon 1t, which is considered here. The Z
NOSES which, as before stated, are thickest
N the north side, may be, when viewed at a
distance, as dark or darker than the bare
ace Of the south side will be. But the stone t
N the north side will be comparatively light /,
olored The branches on the south side OF a !
rec are heaviest and the south side of rock ,
8 darkest for the same reason that moss is
bsent on the same side of both The sun . =
hines on that side longer than any other 5
his is true Of the region north Of the equa- =
or all over the globe, but especially in the
orth temperate zone. South Of the equator
be opposite conditions prevail-St. Louis =
Cremation Making Headway. -