68 BOOK OF OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS 



would be impossible to dismiss the subject of night 

 blooming plants without referring to the ephemeral 

 blossoms of the night-flowering cactuses, Cereus grandi- 

 Jlora — with its vanilla scented brown and yellow flowers, 

 often measuring a foot across — and C. nycticalus, known 

 as the Queen of the Night. The flowers of these 

 plants open at about nine o'clock and begin to wither 

 some six hours later. 



One might go on adding to the list, but, even from 

 the few plants here enumerated, it will be seen that 

 the night gardener has a considerable field in which to 

 work ; whilst to those who share Baudelaire's love of 

 scents, the realm of night-blooming flowers should be a 

 very Paradise. 



" II est des parfums frais comme des chairs d'enfants, 

 Doux comme les hautbois, verts comme les prairies, 



Et d'autres, corrumpus, riches et triomphants, 



Ayant I'expansion des choses infinies, 



Comme I'ambre, le muse, le benjoin et Tencens, 



Qui chantent les transports de I'esprit et des sens." 



