i8o FRAGRANT PLANTS [CH. 



Alpine Auricula, and Musk, and Double Rocket, and 

 Sweet Pea, and Mignonette. 



It was Lord Bacon who said : " Because the breath 

 of flowers is far sweeter in the air than in the hand, 

 therefore nothing is more fit for that delight than to 

 know what be the flowers and plants that do best 

 perfume the air." 



We associate with our early years impressions in the 

 shrubbery from the Lilac, the Mock Orange (Buddleia 

 Globosa\ Chimonanthus Fragrans, the sweetest of winter 

 flowers, Sweet Briar, Double Gorse, Honeysuckle, Broom, 

 and Thorn ; in the meadows, impressions from Cow- 

 slips, Wood Hyacinths, Meadow Sweet, and Marsh Mari- 

 gold. They may well be envied who carry with 

 them through life recollections of the fragrance rising 

 from a sunny bank of Heather in the later summer, 

 or a whiff from the Clover field, or the Pine trees on 

 the avenue, or the sweet breath of the young Larch on 

 an April night. Perhaps of all plants, whether in the 

 greenhouse or outside, the sweet-scented Verbena is 

 the oldest favourite. 



Plants and trees such as these give off their sweetness 

 freely, but there are some of which the scent can only 

 be perceived on coming very near, or by touching them. 



" Herbs, though scentless when entire, perfume the 

 air when bruised." Of these the most familiar are 

 Lavender, Myrtle, Rosemary, Mexican Orange Flower, 

 Sweet Bay, Juniper, Escallonia Macrantha, and the 

 delicious Bog Myrtle. 



