*ECT. I. EXCITABILITY. 451 



its great importance to the husbandman. But 

 however plausible the rule thus suggested may be 

 in appearance, and however pleasing it may be in 

 contemplation, it is not likely that it will ever be 

 much attended to by the husbandman ; because 

 nature has furnished him with indications that are 

 still more obvious in the very evidence of his own 

 feelings, as well as perhaps more correct ; as all trees 

 of the same species do not come into leaf precisely 

 at the same time, and as the weather may yet alter 

 even after the most promising indications. 



ART. 1. Efflorescence. The flowering of the Seasons 

 plant, like the leafing, seems to depend upon the different 

 degree of temperature induced by the returning flowers * 

 spring, as the flowers are also protruded pretty re- 

 gularly at the same successive periods of the season. 

 The Mezereon and Snow-drop protrude their flowers 

 in February ; the Primrose in the month of March ; 

 the Cowslip in April ; the great mass of plants in 

 May and June ; many in July, August, and Septem- 

 ber ; some not till the month of October, as the 

 Meadow Saffron ; and some not till the approach or 

 middle of winter, as the Laurustinus and Arbutus. 

 Such at least is the period of their flowering in this 

 country ; but in warmer climates they are earlier, 

 and in colder climates they are later. 



Between the tropics, where the degree of heat is 



always high, it often happens that plants will flower 



more than once in the year ; because they do not 



there require to wait till the temperature is raised to 



2 G 2 



