A MINE OF LIQUID SULPHUR. 315 



to amuse herself in the summer twilight by setting fire to the inflammable 

 atmosphere which surrounds the essential-oil glands of the Fraxinella. One 

 sultry summer evening, when sitting in the garden, she was very much sur- 

 prised to notice the flowers of a group of nasturtiums emitting luminous ra- 

 diants, and she observed the same thing occur on several subsequent even- 

 ings in June and July, 1762. The same phenomena has also been observed 

 by several naturalists, but almost exclusively in connection with yellow or 

 orange-colored flowers, such as the sun flower, the marigold, poppies and the 

 orange lily. The following account of interesting observations of some of 

 these luminous flowers is given by Dr. Phipson : "The Swedish naturalist 

 Prof. Haggern. perceived one evening a faint flash of light dart repeatedly 

 from a marigold. Surprised at such an uncommon appearance, he resolved 

 to examine it with attention, and, to be assured that it was no deception, he 

 placed a man near him, with orders to make a signal when he observed the 

 light. They both saw it constantly at the same moment. The light was 

 most brilliant upon marigolds of an orange or flame color, but scarcely vis- 

 ible upon pale ones. The flash was frequently seen on the same flower two 

 or three times in quick succession, but more commonly at intervals of several 

 minutes. When several flowers, in the same place, emitted this light to- 

 gether, it could be seen at a considerable distance. This phenomenon was 

 remarked in July and August at sunset, and for half an hour when the sky 

 was clear; but after a rainy day, or when the air was loaded with vapors, 

 nothing of it was to be seen. On the 18th of June, 1857, about 10 o'clock in 

 the evening, M. Fries, the well-known Swedish botanist, while walking along 

 in the Botanic Garden at TJpsal, remarked a group of poppies {Papaver ori- 

 entale), in which three or four flowers emitted little flashes of light. Fore- 

 warned as he was by a knowledge that such things had been observed by 

 others, he could nothelpbelievingthathewassufferingfromanopticalillusion. 

 However, the flashes continued showing themselves, from time to time, dur- 

 ing three-quarters of an hour. M. Fries was thus forced to believe that 

 what he saw was real. The next day observing the same phenomenon to 

 occur at about the same hour, he conducted to the place a person entirely 

 ignorant that such a manifestation of light had ever been witnessed in the 

 vegetable world, and, without relating anything concerning it, he brought 

 his companion before the group of poppies. The latter observer was soon 

 in raptures of astonishment and admiratiotion. Many other persons were 

 then led to the spot, some of whom immediately remarked that the 'flowers 

 were throwing out flames.' It is chiefly in the summer months that the 

 emission of light from flowers is seen, and generally during twilight. It is 

 said, however, that flashes have also been noticed in the morning, just before 

 sunrise. The light emitted is always most brilliant before a thunder-storm," 

 — Leisure Sours. 



A Mine of Liquid Sulphur. — In the vicinity of San Marti no, near Pal- 

 ermo, Sicily, a mine of liquid sulphur is being worked; or, in other words, 



