The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-07-31
HIS CLOCK OF FLOWERS.
John D, ROCKEFELLER WILL HAVE A
LARGE FLORAL TlMEPlECE. y--


It is for tho Standard Oil Magnatc's Coun
try Seat-Plants Whose Blossoms open
and Close Regularly at Certain Hours
to be Used-A Novelty in This Country.
John D. Rockefeller, the multl-mli-
Eonaire Standard Oil magnate, is to
have. it is reported, on extraordinary
floral novelty on the grounds OF his
country seat on the Hudson, near lar
rytown. The wonder talked OF is to be
n clock. made entirely of growing How
ers. and it will tell the time OF the day
with much accuracy.
The floral clock is the suggestion OF
Mrs. Rockefeller, with whom botany
is more than mere fad, for she has for
many years been an earnest student OF
Horticulture, and is an. authority on
plants. 1t is said that before she was
married to Mr.. Rockefeller, and while
that gentleman was yet bookkeepef,
she was teacher of botany.
There has never been floral clock
planted in this country, but the Baron
ess Burdett- Coutts had one and SO dld
the Duke of Westminster, and they
were source of pleasure to the owners
and their guests. The one that is expec-
ted will be seen up the American Rhine
will be of home design and the flowers
used will be for the most part those
that grow wild about Tarrytown.
There are sixty-seyen varieties OF
flowers that have certain hours fol
opening and closing their petals. Away
back in a misty age flowers were the
timepieces of the poor, who had nc
other way of telling the time. The
white lily, now as then, opens at z a
m. and closes at 5 p. M, and IN thu
country districts is called the "da!
lily"
The design for Mr.. Rockefeller
clock, it is said, has just been com
pleted by an Ohio landscape gar
dener. who has selected the common
yellow dandelion to represent tn
hands. These flowers open at 30
a. m. and close at about S.3Op. m.
and the hands will point to the al
ranpement of flowers representa-
those figures. For other parts OF til
oueer timepiece the gardener has sue
gested large number out OF the man
from which selection may be MADE
and Mrs. Rockefeller will decide whlc
these shall be. Tho yellow goat
heard will be used for one. Lit grow
in the meadows everywhere. and In th
moor districts of Scotland the school
which cannot have clocks are dlsmlsse
by it.
has been suggested as the best, as
, closes ct that hour to the minut
, Then the snow thistle, all common
the meadow, closes its little WIN
, flower at exactly p. m. The pest
: q. m. plant is from the pasture and
. callsd the sow thistle. 1t opens at
n. m. and begins to close at IL, but
o not completely closed before noon.
\ Tho water lily and several 9th
members Of the lily family are Gel
h brated for tho e1actness with Will
they open aud close each day, ai
: there are q number of flowers comm'
!, to the everyday sight that may
v made to do duty i'll the construction
e the novelty that is to contribute to t
pleasure of Mr.. Rockefeller and
lie friends. :,
v. From a distance the clocl, will ha
u the appearance of G flower bed, but
one will on close inspection mistake
70 for anything other than what 1t
i. That those not familiar with the han
i'd of the flowers may anticipate the pre-
IL timekeepers in their duty an ollcl'
We book, written in indehble INK '
probably be placed alongside the clio
u so that those who watch may lnfo
he themselves.-New York World.