The Scents of Flowers 



gradually recover not only their old shapes, but 

 their old scents ; but on this I must speak doubt- 

 fully. I suppose this destruction of scents is 

 analogous to the destruction of the poisonous 

 qualities of plants by cultivation, as in the well- 

 known cases of the carrot, parsnip, and celery ; 

 and I suppose it is also analogous to the way in 

 which the unpleasant properties of plants are 

 dispelled by cooking. 



And among the most curious and the most 

 delightful properties of flower scents is the way 

 in which, more than anything else, they help to 

 recall days that are past, and places and friends 

 that are far distant. " I can shut my eyes and 

 think about gardens and that," said a child in a 

 children's hospital, when a bunch of wallflowers 

 was given to her. But on this part of my subject, 

 pleasant though it is, I must here say nothing, 

 because I have already said much in a former 

 paper on " Garden Associations," ^ and because I 

 must bring my paper to a close. I will do so by 

 expressing a hope that from the little here said 

 some will regard flower scents not merely as an 

 adjunct of flowers formed to please the nose, as 

 the shapes and colours please the eye, but as 

 something which the life of the plant requires. 

 That we cannot tell everything about them is of 

 very small consequence ; they add to the delight 

 of our gardens, and, none the less so, because they 

 are mysteries. 



' " In a Gloucestershire Garden," p. 269, 

 119 



