488 ON THE ODOURS OF PLANTS. [April, 



Some of the Orchids, beautiful though they be, have smells that 

 are absolute contrasts to ottar of roses, lavender water, etc. 

 Some of this family, as Conopsea, smell very agreeably, especially 

 in the evening. Every one is sensible of the proximity of Svveet- 

 Briar in the evening or after a shower : the air is then capable 

 of conveying the exquisite odours of leaves and flowers. 



Chenopodium olidmn has a smell which has often been compared 

 to that of putrid fish ; and our Gladwin Iris has been called the 

 roast-beef plant, because its smell has been compared by some to 

 that which is surely very savoury and agreeable to the hungry 

 man. Why the same smell should be called offensive (stinking), 

 and at the same time compared to the smell of good meat, dressed 

 in the most natural method, is one of the inconsistencies of science. 



The common Wallflower, e.g., smells as sweet on the rugged 

 and inaccessible cliifs of Kinnoul Hill, as it does when it occupies 

 the cottager's garden or the rich man's parterre. In either con- 

 dition its scent is neither increased nor modified, neither improved 

 nor impaired. In a cultivated state, double or monstrous flowers 

 may be produced, and a greater luxuriance of growth attained, 

 but the odour is unchanged and unchangeable. 



Some Orders of plants are characterized by their aromatic odour 

 in an eminent degree, — the Labiatce, or Mint family, in par- 

 ticular ; but as no general rules appear to exist without exception, 

 exceptions in this fragrant family also occur. The genus Stachys 

 may be cited as an example, S. sylvatica, the flowers and foli- 

 age of which give out a heavy, sickening smell ; while Balm, 

 Mint, Thyme, Origanum, Hyssop, and Rosemary, etc., are re- 

 markable for their agreeable perfume, whether in a dried or re- 

 cent condition. On the other hand, some families are equally 

 well characterized by their intolerable scent. 



The Scrophulariaceoi, an Order in many instances closely re- 

 sembling the preceding in external appearance, but possessing 

 very different qualities, are as remarkable for their nauseous odour 

 and deleterious properties as the former for their innocent nature 

 and ai'omatic odour. Besides, as a means of the specific deter- 

 mination of closely allied plants, odour may in my opinion in ge- 

 neral be successfully and advantageously employed as an index 

 in a great measure indicative of their proprieties, innocent or 

 noxious, wholesome and good for food, or poisonous and produc- 

 tive of disease and death. 



