ANNUAL REST IS UNIVERSAL. 511 



Clouds are seldom seen in the sky ; the heat of the sun is only- 

 rendered supportable by the sea breeze, which blows regularly 

 from the south-east during the greater part of the day. The 

 nights are calm and serene, the moon shines more brightly 

 than in Europe, and emits a light that enables man to read 

 the smallest print ; its absence is in some degree compensated 

 by the planets, and above all by the luminous effulgence of the 

 galaxy. From the middle of August to the end of September, 

 the thermometer rises frequently above 90°, the refreshing sea 

 breeze is then interrupted, and frequent calms announce the 

 approach of the great periodical rains. Fiery clouds are seen 

 in the atmosphere, and the mountains appear less distant to 

 the spectator than at other seasons of the year. The rain falls 

 in torrents about the beginning of October, the rivers overflow 

 their banks, and a great portion of the low grounds is sub- 

 merged. The rain that fell in Barbadoes in the year 1754 is 

 said to have exceeded eighty-seven inches. The moisture of 

 the atmosphere is so great, that iron and other metals easily 

 oxidated are covered with rust. This humidity contiaues 

 under a burning sun ; the inhabitants (say some writers) live in 

 a vapour bath." (Malte Brim's Geography, vol. v. p. 569, 

 Eng. ed.) 



It is evident, from what has been said, that the natural 

 resting of plants from growth is a most important phenomenon, 

 of universal occurrence, and that it takes place equally in the 

 hottest and the coldest regions. It is, therefore, a condition 

 necessary to the weU-being of a plant, not to be overlooked 

 under any circumstances whatever, and there cannot be any 

 really good gardening where this is not attended to in the 

 management of plants under glass. Eest is effected in one of 

 two ways, either by a very considerable lowering of temperature, 

 or by a degree of dryness under which vegetation cannot be 

 sustained. 



The way in which the physical powers of vegetation are 

 affected by this has been already explained, and in practice it 

 is found a point of the utmost consequence. The early fruit- 

 gardener draws his Vines out of the vinery, and takes the 

 sashes from his Peach and other forcing-houses, when the 



