176 Dr. Smaitu's Observations on 
of acquiring an entirely new finell, either by accidental variation of 
foil, a dry fituation, or fome change in their conftitution which we 
‘cannot underftand. Thus the {mell of Sweet Bafil,-Ocymum, is ac- 
quired by fome, that of Orange by others, and one or two acquire a 
peculiarly fweet fmell, which belongs alfo to a fweet variety of the 
Garden Thyme, Thymus vulgaris, called in Norfolk, where it is very 
common, Frank: ncenfe Thyme. The fmell and tafte of Pepper 
Mint, which feem natural to our well-known fpecies fo named, 
are d in commion with it by Íome others, even wild in Eng- 
id; and the Mentha- piperita. ufed. ‘in Sweden, and defcribed by 
inkl and Bergius, - is s certainly. a different ens. from ours: 
Indeed I am told by thofe who cultivate- p. t f 
cal purpofes, that, to i dp its pu tbe roots mutt be tranf- 
planted every three years ; otherwife it degenerates into the flavour 
of b etg i from whiel neverthelefs i it is igecihceltr different. - 
PA Bees 
particularly the py in the piked Mints. "The: degree of 
EE of the leaves, and in general of the whole plant, is ex- 
tremely uncertain. I need fcarcely fay, colour is not at all to be 
depended | on. Many mints expofed to much air and fun become 
teii para ur us is of the famigi is alfo à variable cir- 
"The agua in ete SENA every geuus has ee confidered by 
all authors as affording indubitable: marks of fpecific diftin@ion. 
"The mints ‘have been divided into fpiked, capitate and verticillate. 
"Some very ftriking circumftances have led me to doubt whet! er even 
thefe diftinctions are well founded. I am very confident the fame 
i» : - fpecies ; 
