SIVEET-SMELLTNG PLANTS 



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that is closely allied to the Sweet Scabious, some are annuals, 

 others perennial ; the flowers of this variety are pleasingly fragrant. 



Astragalus glycyphyllus. — A common, hardy, trailing, perennial 

 plant of the Vetch tribe, with pale green i3o^^ers, found in sandy 

 soils. Its leaves are pleasingly aromatic. 



Ataxia Horsfieldii. — A Javanese Grass which has the peculiarity of 

 emitting, when biniised, a similar odour to that given out by Sweet 

 Vernal Grass [Anthoxcrathum). 



Atherosperma odoratum. — An Australian tree with aromatic foliage. 



Azalea. — A tribe of flowering shrubby plants from the East and Western 

 Hemispheres ; many varieties adorn our hardy borders, others are 

 cultivated as ornamental greenhouse plants, the flowers of all are 

 abundantly produced, delightfully pretty, and generally highly 

 odoriferous, whilst the range of colour is almost endless. The 

 hardier kinds, when gi'own out of doors, are objects of great beauty, 

 and it is impossible to over-estimate the elegance of these Azaleas 

 when in flower in early summer ; and it seems astonishing they 

 should be so seldom seen in English gardens. It cannot be from 

 the want of varied attractions, for their colours are exquisite, and 

 produced in such profusion, that their presence adds a charm to the 

 scenery and pour out a delightful fragrance that scents the air for 

 some distance around with a delicate honey smell. They thrive 

 best in sandy peat soils, but will also grow in ordinary material ; 

 they are deciduous, and may be planted out in autumn and winter ; 

 being compact in habit, they occupy little space, and are well 

 adapted for small gardens ; there are both single and double flower- 

 ing kinds that have been brought by skilful hybridisation and care- 

 ful selection to a high state of perfection. All are pretty, and should 

 be largely cultivated ; they have the further advantage of forcing 

 well, and by this means can be brought into bloom at Christmas, a 

 season of the year when lovely flowers are in demand. 



The dainty greenhouse kinds, so largely cultivated in Belgium, 

 and brought to this country in the early autumn for winter flower- 

 ing, do not all possess scented attractions, some few sorts, however, 

 are pleasingly fragrant and worthy of cultivation in this respect. 



Azara microphylla. — A Chilian shrub bearing yellow flowers, strongly 

 impregnated with a Vanilla fragrance. 



Azarole. -See Crataegus odoratissima. 



' What svreetness is tliis in th.e breath of the air? 



Sure a fragrant flower dwelleth just nigh, 

 'Tis the perfume waived o'er from yon phint fair 

 That grows where the lily beds lye ! ' 



Babiana. — A bulbous-rooted plant, one of the many beaittiful forms 



