Use of Plant and Flower 231 



Orris-root is much used in perfumery. It is prin- 

 cipally used in powdered form (formerly called Pow- 

 der of Cyprus), for sachet powders, tooth and hair 

 powders and other scented dry preparations. The 

 dried root is sometimes chewed to conceal an offens- 

 ive breath. 



Formerly powdered orris-root was used as a com- 

 plexion beautifier. The root of a species of Iris grown 

 on the thatched roofs in China and Japan is used for 

 the same purpose, and the origin of such roof-growing 

 is thus given in Mrs. Eraser's Book of "Japanese 

 Tales": 



"Once there was a great famine in the land, and it 

 was forbidden to plant anything in the ground that 

 could not be used for food. The frivolous Irises only 

 supply the powder with which the women whiten 

 their faces, but their little ladyships could not be 

 cheated out of that. 'Must we look like frights as 

 well as die of hunger?' So every woman set a tiny 

 plantation of Irises on the roof of her house, where 

 they are growing to this day. " 



The following lines, written for the United Press, 

 July, 1917, indicate that if the late European War 

 had continued much longer, the ladyships of other 

 lands than China and Japan would find a similiar 

 use for the Iris: 



In France they've taken all the rice 

 To hoard for food supply, 

 So powderless all dames must go, 

 Of low degree or high. 



