PERFUME OF PLANTS. 127 
the “hard questions” of botanical science; and 
we fear we can only say—We cannot tell. There 
is no doubt it is a chemical process of some kind 
or other, taking place in the thousand cells which, 
united, form the flower. The fragrance is most 
exquisite of its kind, and in its soft and delicate 
nature is immeasurably superior to those burning, 
pungent, scented spirits which are called artificial 
perfume. The morning glittering with the drops 
of a new-fallen shower, or the dewy close of day 
are the best times for enjoying the pleasures of 
the garden; for then, borne on the moist wings 
of rising vapours, the fragrance of the flowers 
streams out in richest abundance. Then indeed 
“all nature seems as if offering up incense in 
gratitude for the refreshing powers of dew.” In 
the dry and sultry period, called in Scripture lan- 
guage by the expressive term the “heat of the 
day,” the perfume of plants is not to be per- 
ceived, or at least with but a very small propor- 
tion of the power in which it is poured out when 
the twilight shades come on. It seems probable 
that this is entirely due to the comparative absence 
of moisture in the air at the one period, and to 
its presence in the air of morning, or of eventide. 
