APRIL 89 



flower and leaf, the smell of cleansing showers, and gentle 

 breezes blowing with lightest touch for our other senses. 

 Some there are who have endeavoured to write the lore of 

 perfumes, and would tell us that the odour of wild thyme 

 renews the spirits ; the scent of sweet-briar promotes cheerful- 

 ness ; cowslips, wallflowers, plum-blossom bestows refresh- 

 ment; and that the fragrance of limes produces dreams. 

 Even Ralph Austin said in his delightful book (1657), 

 " Health is preserved by pleasant and wholesome odours, and 

 perfumes found in the garden of fruit-trees ... are not 

 simply healthfull, but are accompted cordiall, chearing and 

 refreshing the heart and vitall spirits." 



