84 THE CHRONICLES OF A GARDEN. 



purpose, and the single kind is generally desj^ised as not 

 worth culture ; but it is even more fragrant than the 

 double, and, from its branching growth, can be gathered 

 without destroying the appearance of the plant, so it should 

 be sown by all those who love cut-flowers ; and even when 

 growing, a bed of it is so deliciously sweet in the evening, 

 that I often wonder it is not more cultivated. Rocket, or 

 dame's violet, is another of the night-smelling flowers, and 

 very beautiful and fragrant it is ; the variety called French 

 rocket has a lilac tinge in the flower, and a greater ten- 

 dency to branch out than the pure white kind ; they like a 

 rich soil, and may be propagated by slipjiing off small 

 pieces in August, or by diverting the roots. Its scientific 

 name, Hesperis, has been given on account of its perfume 

 becoming so much more powerful in the evening ; its dark- 

 coloured little relative, Hesperis tristis, has this 23eculiarity 

 in a still more marked degree, without the queenly beauty 

 of the Hesperis matronalis to recommend it by day. 



" Moi-tal ! bethink thee — if at close of day 

 Both bird and flower their grateful homage pay, 

 This in sweet odour, that in tuneful song, 

 What thankful strains should flow from human tongue ! 

 Oh think what noble mercies crown thy daj^s, 

 Then be thy life one ceaseless act of praise ! " 



The evening hour in the garden is enjoyed by most 

 people as a time of rest and quiet ; and certainly after we 

 have visited our floral friends, among whom we have been 

 working durhig the day, and have enjoyed the sight of 

 seedlings and cuttings refreshed with the evening's water- 



