I am reviewing the requirements for a commercial pilots license. There
are two that are perplexing me. I ask it on the IFR forum simply
because it is the one I am most familiar with and folks here seem ver
FAR knowledgable (sorry if this is not the best place for it).

Part 61.129 (Aeronautical experience) Paragraph a (single engine):

Sub-para (4)(i) [relating to solo flight experience] "One cross-country
flight of not less than 300 nautical miles total distance, with landings
at a minimum of 3 points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at
least 250 nautical miles from the original departure point."

Does a cross-country need to be completed in the course of 1 day. For
example, if one flew this requirement by flying somewhere one day, and
then flying back 1 week later (with an additional stop thrown in there
somewhere)...does that work?

Sub-para (4)(ii) [relating to solo flight experience] "5 hours in night
VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings...at an airpott with an
operating control tower."

Are these really two separate requirements? One being 5 hours of night
VFR, and another for 10 TOs/Landings at a controlled airport? Or do the
TOs/landings have to be done in the course of night VFR?