PERFUMES. 321 



had alread}' had an opportunity of admiring this small 

 tree in the Mortola (rardoBS. At (ii-&s,Bt Acacia J^^aniesiaiia 

 is culti\'ated onh' to a \'er\- limited extent, but large 

 plantations of this plant are to be found in Algeria. The 

 small globular dark-^'ellow flower-heads, the ''Cassie", 

 are gathered from September to December: this requires 

 both skill and practice as these plants are Yer\ thorn\ . 

 The delicate violet-like odour of the flowers is absorbed 

 b-\' the process of enfleurage, or extracted by Petrol- 

 ether. I'hc essence thus obtained is of great importance 

 in the preparation of "Bouquets". 



Fiiialh' we must not forget to mention the Tuberose, 

 Polyaiiilies Tiihcrosa. This bulbous plant belongs to 

 the famiK of tlie Amar\llidaceae, and is a favourite 

 on our flower tables and in bouquets because of its 

 beautiful white blossoms and powerful fragrance. Its 

 home is in Central America, but as a rule we onh' see 

 the double flowered variet\' which smells so strongh" 

 towards evening — another instance of the wide-spread 

 phenomenon that Ihjwers do not gi\'e forth the same 

 strength of perfume at all times of the da}-. Who has 

 not noticed that the Datura and Nicotiana, the Dame's 

 \'iolet (Ilcfpen's iiia/roiialis) and the ]\lar\'el of Peru of 

 our gardens ha\'e scarceh' an\- perfume during the da^•, 

 while in the e\'ening their tragrance is all pervading. 

 On the other hand \\'ater Lilies { \xniphaca alba), Gourd 

 flowers (Cia:.urhiia prpo). Bindweed {Convolvulus arvcusis), 

 are onh' fragrant during tlie da^'. This variation is of 

 importance to the plants ; the\' emit perfume b-\' day 

 or bv night according as thc^' require diurnal or noct- 



