up, nor are they ever to be seen in full beauty
after three o'clock.

At about four o'clock the dandelion (Taraxacum
dens leonis) spreads its golden blossoms to
the rising sun; and five o'clock is announced
by the flowering of the smooth hawk's-beard
(Crepis teetorium) growing upon the walls.
Towards six o'clock the viper's grass
(Scarzonera) blossoms, while from six to seven the
flowers of various kinds of sow's thistle
(Sonchus) and hawkweed (Hieracium) make their
appearance. Precisely at seven o'clock the
flowers of the common lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
burst forth into bloom; and, between seven and
eight, Venus's looking-glass (Specularie speculum)
begins to show its pretty self, from which
it may perhaps be inferred that the goddess is
not a very early riser. At eight o'clock, if the
sky be neither cloudy nor rainy, the scarlet
pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) unfolds its
blossoms. Nine o'clock is marked by the flowering
of the creeping mouse-ear hawkweed (Hieracium
lubium). From nine to ten of a summer's
morning the red sandwort (Arenaria rubra),
with its starry blossoms like silver pennies—
varying in colour from a deep purple to a delicate
lilac or white—may be seen: spangling the
grass in their full loveliness; but, by four
o'clock, each blossom is closed up from the
dews which twilight brings. At ten, a
poisonous sort of juniper, the purple savin
(Juniperas subina), opens its flower leaves.
Punctually at eleven, the common star of
Bethlehem (Ornithogelum umbellatum) expands its
star-like white and green blossoms, flowering
during two or three weeks, but never unfolding
except in bright sunshine, and even then not
before eleven; hence gardeners often call it eleven-
o'clock-lady , and the French term it la belle
d'onze heures. The Alpine single-flowered hawkweed
(Hieracium alpinum) comes out at the
same time. No plant by its flowering distinctly
marks mid-day; although many varieties of
figtrees blossom about that time.

Commencing, at one o'clock, there is the succory
(Chicorium), and, at two, the squill hyacinth
(Scilla pomeridiana). The common marigold
(Calcutula arvensis) is put down in the calendar
for three o'clock; but this is found to be uncertain.
By four o'clock, the four o'clock flower
(Mirabilis lichotome) blooms; and at five
o'clock, the flower of the wall, hawkweed
(Hieracium murarim) makes its appearance.

From five to six, the pale rose-coloured petals
of the sweet-scented night-flowering catchfly
(Silene noctiflora) disclose themselves. And, on
portions of the sides of those towering and
majestic cliffs which border the shore for several
miles along the east of Dover, thousands of
these starry blossoms are seen, in their
full glory about eight o'clock in the evening,
growing on stems about a foot high,
and exhaling a powerful perfume resembling
prussic acid. When, however, this odour is
borne upon the sea breeze, it is said to be
delicious. The flowers retain their peculiarity of
opening only in the evening, even after they are
gathered; and their scent is then almost too
powerful to be borne in a room.

At six o'clock the evening primrose (Anothera
brinnis) opens its large primrose-coloured,
somewhat fragrant blossoms, just when
the summer twilight is on its way. Its mode of
expanding is curious; the petals being held
together at the summit by the hooked ends of
the calyx, the segments of the flower-cup at
first separate at the base, and the yellow
petals peep through these openings a long
time before the flower is fully blown. The
expansion is very gradual until the blossom is free
from the hooks at the top; but, when this is
effected, it unfolds very quickly for a minute or
two, and then stops; after which it opens slowly,
spreading itself out quite flat. The whole of
this process sometimes occupies half an hour,
and often a little sudden noise is made as it
jerks the topmost hooks asunder. The flowers
hang next day discoloured and flaccid, so that
the plant has little beauty until evening.
Occasionally, however, a blossom or two may be seen
fully open even at noonday.

The night-flowering stock (Matthiola tristis)
is all day withered, needing the air of
night to freshen it into vigour and sweetness.
Between seven and eight o'clock in the evening
during the summer, the queen of night
flowers, the magnificent night-flowering cerens
(Cerens noctiflora) begins to open its blossoms;
and, by eleven o'clock, these are in full blow.
The calyx of the flower, when open, is nearly a
foot in diameter. The inside is of a splendid
yellow colour, appearing like the rays of a bright
star, while the outside is of a dark brown. The
petals, being purely white, add considerably to
the lustre of the golden star; and while they
are in bloom, these flowers are certainly
unsurpassed for beauty and fragrance. Another
cerens (Cerens myticalus) is also night-flowering,
beginning to open between seven and eight,
and being fully expanded by ten o'clock.

At eight o'clock, in hot weather, the beautiful
flowers of the marvel of Peru (Mirabilis jalapa)
unfold themselves, but it sometimes happens
if the weather is cool, or the sun is obscured,
they open in the daytime.

The nine o'clock flower, the latest, is called
the mournful geranium (Geranium triste).
Linnæus named all night-flowering blossoms mournful
plants (Florus triste), and many, this geranium
included, deserve the name from their dull
colour. During the daytime the sulphur-
coloured flowers of the geranium have no smell;
but, after flowering, they exhale until daylight
an exquisite aroma of chinnomen.

The expansion and closing of flowers is
supposed to be regulated by light and moisture. A
plant accustomed to flower in daylight at a
certain time, will continue to expand its flowers at
the wonted period, even when kept in a dark
room. Decandolle made a series of experiments
on the flowering of plants kept in darkness, and
in a cellar lighted by lamps. He found that the
law of periodicity continued to operate for a
considerable time, and that in artificial light