BECEEATIYE SCIENCE. 



341 



perfumes, no less than that eompoiind of " vil- 

 lanous smells" that is the more usual product 

 of his laboratory. 



With merely a passing reference to the 

 " Odours of Eden," which breathed around 

 our first parents in their delightful abode, we 

 may notice that perfumes have been in use 

 from the earliest ages, not only as a source 

 of pleasure, but also as a supposed means of 

 repelling diseases, and as auxiliaries in religi- 

 ous ceremonies ; for which last purpose in- 

 cense is still used in Europe, whilst in China 

 the " joss-stick " is employed in the temples 

 of their various idols. 



It is not possible to convey in words a 

 description of the various odours which affect 

 us, either pleasantly or otherwise, and we 

 can no more imagine a new one than we can 

 picture to ourselves a new colour. Every 

 odoriferous flower has its own peculiar scent, 

 and though the variety is almost endless, it 

 is probable that (chemically considered) they 

 are all similarly composed, and that their 

 ultimate elements are few. 



That these odorous emanations are capable 

 of a very wide diffusion, is evident from the 

 distance at which they are perceptible. The 

 fragrance of newly -mown hay is an instance 

 of this, and a single flower of the Magnolia 

 glauca, when first expanded, will fill a large 

 apartment with its odour. Certain trees 

 also, when under the influence of warmth 

 and light, diffuse their emanations to an 

 immense distance ; the coniferse or firs being 

 amongst the most noticeable in this respect. 

 Where large forests of these are found, their 

 exhalations have been perceptible at sea 

 when the land was far beyond the limits of 

 sight ; it is even said at the distance of 100 

 miles. Some flowers only emit their per- 

 fume at certain hours, and at others appear 

 almost or quite scentless ; as the night-blowing 

 stock, which during the day is without odour, 

 but at sunset emits a delicious fragrance. 



The pleasure derived from the fragrance 

 of flowers has induced the endeavour to 



separate the odoriferous principle from them, 

 so as to have the perfume when the flowers 

 are unattainable. This odoriferous principle, 

 or substance in which the odour resides, is 

 in most cases a volatile oil, to which the 

 name of otto or attar is given, and this is 

 usually extracted by distilling the flowers 

 with water, with the steam of which the- 

 volatile matter passes over and is condensed. 

 The extent to which this process is em- 

 ployed, both in our own and in other 

 countries, is much more considerable than 

 is generally supposed ; several large estab- 

 lishments for the especial purpose existing 

 in the immediate neighbourhood of London, 

 in localities where the soil appears most 

 suited for the growth of the various plants. 

 It may surprise some of our readers to learn 

 that in these " flower farms," as they are 

 sometimes called, may be seen fields of 

 several acres planted entirely with roses, 

 and others still larger and more numerous 

 devoted solely to the growth of lavender 

 and peppermint — plants which produce in 

 England, and especially in the counties of 

 Surrey and Hertford, an oil so much finer 

 than can be procured from the Continent, 

 that it is worth eight times the price of the 

 foreign. About 6000 pounds of oil of laven- 

 der are annually produced in England from 

 these farms Violets also, the " coronets 

 of April," are cidtivated to a large extent, 

 one grower of these general favourites having 

 no less than nine acres of ground entirely 

 covered with them, and others may possibly 

 have even more than this. 



It is, however, in the south of Europe, 

 and especially in the neighbourhood of Grasse 

 and of Nice, that the cultivation of flowers 

 for the sake of their ottos is most extensively 

 practised, the warmer climate being more 

 favourable to their growth, and causing them 

 to yield a larger product of the article sought. 

 At Cannes are grown roses, tuberoses, jas- 

 mine, and neroli ; and at Nismes, thyme, 

 rosemary, and aspic; whilst Sicily yields 



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