ODORS OF VEGETATION. 



The beauty of a summer landscape is greatly enhanced 

 by its alliance with the agreeable odors that constantly 

 emanate from herbs and flowers ; for the sight of a grove 

 or woody pasture invariably suggests the idea of fragrance. 

 The rising mists of the valley, tinged with the ruddy 

 hues of dawn, derive interest from their relation to the 

 fragrance of morning. And it may be remarked, on the 

 other hand, that odors are indebted to other charming in- 

 fluences of nature for a great share of their own pleasant- 

 ness. For nature has so combined all the objects of 

 creation, that they are made to reflect a portion of their 

 own light, beauty, and agreeableness upon each other. 



The sense of smelling is not included by philosophers 

 among the intellectual senses, like those of sight and 

 hearing. It chiefly serves the purpose of directing ani- 

 mals to the right selection of the substances they use 

 for food by their agTeeable odors, and averting them from 

 such as are noxious by those of an offensive character. 

 This instinct is an unerring guide to the inferior animals 

 among the simple productions of nature. But art is so 

 ingenious in imparting the savor of any agreeable and 

 wholesome substance to others which are injurious, that 

 the sense of smeL., even when assisted by taste, is an 

 unsafe guide in the use of artificial preparations. Among 

 natural productions, unmodified by art, the 'senses of 

 smeU and taste are safe guides to all fruits and other 

 substances. 



It is not my purpose, however, to discuss this point 



