LUTHER BURBANK 



odoriferous oils and essences is so characteristic a 

 phenomenon with plants in general, that we can 

 hardly doubt that every tribe has in its ancestral 

 strains very complex elements for the production 

 of odoriferous compounds. Odors appear to play 

 a very important part in plant life, not merely in 

 the attraction of insects to facilitate cross-fertiliza- 

 tion, but also in giving plants protection. 



Otherwise it would be hard to account for the 

 almost universal prevalence of odors of one kind 

 or another in connection with the various tissues 

 of the plant. 



Moreover there is a far closer relationship than 

 is commonly supposed between agreeable and dis- 

 agreeable odors. Ottar of roses, properly diluted, 

 has a delicious fragrance; but the same essence in 

 its concentrated form is positively disagreeable. 

 Also the combination of disagreeable odors some- 

 times produces a delightful fragrance in the hands 

 of the perfumer. 



This may give the clue to the rather puzzling 

 fact that even among fragrant flowers there may 

 be found occasional blossoms that have a more or 

 less disagreeable odor. By eliminating these, the 

 quality of the odor of a bunch of flowers is greatly 

 bettered. Yet many persons gather flowers indis- 

 criminately without realizing why some bouquets 

 have more agreeable odor than others. 



[220] 



