SMELL OF NEW HAY. 6 1 



hue of their blossoms, exhale, in the evening chiefly, 

 a most powerful lemon-like scent, as Epidcndrnm en- 

 sifolium, Sm. Spicil. t. 24, and Chloranthus inconspi- 

 cuus, Phil. Trans, for 1787, t. 14, great favourites of 

 the Chinese, who seem peculiarly fond of this scent. 

 There are other instances of odorous and aromatic 

 secretions, similar among themselves, produced hy 

 very different plants, as Camphor. The sweet smell 

 of new hay is found not only in Antlwxanthum odor a- 

 turn, Engl. Bot. t. 647, and some other grasses, hut 

 in Woodruff or Asperula odor at a, t. 755, Melilot or 

 Trifolium qfficinale, t. 1340, and all the varieties, hy 

 some deemed species, of Orchis mUitaris, t. 16 and 

 i. 1873, plants wi/iely different from each other in 

 botanical characters, as well as in colour and every 

 particular except smell. Their odour has one pecu- 

 liarity, that it is not at all perceptible while the plants 

 are growing, nor till they begin to dry. It proceeds 

 from their whole herbage, and should seem to escape 

 from the orifices of its containing cells, only when the 

 surrounding vessels, by growing less turgid, withdraw 

 their pressure from such oritices. When this scent of 

 new hay is vehement, it becomes the flavour of bitter 

 almonds. The taste of syrup of capillaire, given by 

 an infusion of Orange flowers, is found in the herbage 

 of Gaulthena procumbens, Andr. Rcpos. t. 116, and 

 Spircea Ulmaria, Engl. Bot. t. 960, two very diffe- 

 rent plants. 



Some of the above examples show an evident ana- 



