NOCTURNAL REPOSE OF PLANTS. 
27 
plants, in their natural and wild state, are subjected to a certain 
period of exertion, if we may so term it, a period of excitement, 
in which the various functions of the plants are called into 
action, and a consumption or waste of its previously acquired 
energies takes place, and many plants present ocular demonstra¬ 
tion of the very great demand made upon their systems by as¬ 
suming, towards the close of this period of action, a languid or 
even flaccid appearance. Their energies are completely pros¬ 
trated, and their state resembles that of the tiger after his spring. 
But immediately after this period of action occurs that of rest, 
and the resumption of the plant’s energies, and that to an ex¬ 
tent exactly proportionate, the two periods occupying each 
twelve hours, the twenty-four hours being equally divided be¬ 
tween the day and night. 
But in our stoves the plant is very differently situated in this 
particular; our days in summer extending to sixteen or seven¬ 
teen hours, a much greater demand is made upon the plant, 
without a corresponding period of reaction. It is true, a sem¬ 
blance of vigour may be produced by copious supplies of water, 
but the result is only a forced and unnatural growth, anything 
but favorable to the safe keeping of the plant through the winter, 
and terminates in the certain though it maybe gradual decay of 
the natural vigour of the plant; and if the same system of unceas¬ 
ing excitement is extended into the seasonal treatment, its com¬ 
plete destruction is the necessary consequence. 
It is evident that, under these circumstances, the plant has 
not a proportionate time for the proper elaboration of its juices, 
so that to meet the extensive waste daily going on, it is forced 
to take up and exist on crude and improper matters, by this its 
tissue becomes unnaturally enlarged, and what is called unripe 
wood is the consequence : the great difficulties attendant on the 
management of plants in this state is known to too many culti¬ 
vators. Hence, in our practice, it becomes as necessary to pro¬ 
vide for the repose of plants as it is to supply them with earth 
or water. We might go further in urging the necessity of “ rest,” 
or a cessation of excitement, but must at present confine our¬ 
selves to the means by which it is to be attained. 
We have before explained the first cause of excitement to be 
