380 WILD FLOWERS OF 



of the herb ; which much resembles that of the prim- 

 rose, but is not altogether so agreeable ; partaking 

 also as it appears to me, of the odour of bees-wax. 

 While drying, this scent is much more powerful, and 

 it is retained even when the plant is perfectly dry." 

 That noses may differ, however, in their sensations, 

 like doctors and lawyers in opinions, appears oddly 

 enough from the recorded statements of Mr. WILSON 

 and Mr. NEWMAN, who both considered the odour 

 given out by the plant to be exactly like that of a raw 

 potatoe Sir J. E. SMITH, like myself, thought it to 

 resemble primroses while a lady to whom. I pre- 

 sented three mature plants in seed after they had 

 been gathered nearly five months, and requested her to 

 smell them, at once exclaimed "Beautiful! just like the 

 Mezereon! " "When I have had about fifty fresh plants 

 together, the fragrance proceeding from them was so 

 powerful as to scent the room they were in for weeks, 

 and was instantly perceptible on opening the door. 



The wild Flora of September partakes of the colder 

 hues which the waning year now insensibly, as the 

 brighter flowers fade, mixes up with the changing 

 aspect of things. The various Mints (Mentha), as 

 Spearmint, Peppermint, Watermint, Hedmint, &c., 

 now every where present their whorled or capitate 

 pale purple flowers on the sides of rivers, brooks, and 

 springs, toning down the hues of the robe of nature 

 in coincidence with the " cold autumnal care" that 

 begins to make itself sensible to the mind, yet not 

 without a feeling of pensive pleasure from the fragrant 

 scents diffused around- 



" in the meadows where 



Mints perfume the gentle aire."* 

 * W. BROWNE. 



