HISTORICAL SKETCH 



xlv 



sweet odoriferous plants, possesses energetic antiseptic quali- 

 ties, and possibly some clew to these properties resulted in 

 the origin of the burning of incense in the early days, to 

 lessen the spreading of diseases of an infectious character. 

 Yet there still exists in the minds of many persons a strong 

 prejudice against all sweet scents, as we shall presently show. 



With the wisdom of our ancestors to guide us we are the 

 more convinced that we must not despise the use of the scent- 

 bottle: and also the cultivation of simple aromatic plants 

 in the manner of our forefathers, which has become unfashion- 

 able, may well occupy the attention of our horticulturists at 

 times when there is so much sickness about, and upon this 

 point we Avould refer readers to the old-tirne customs in the 

 use of Eue {^ee Paita). 



Some years ago the Journal of Cheraistri/ published an in- 

 teresting article containing simple instructions upon obtaining 

 scents from the garden, which we partly reproduce, as it bears 

 such close affinity to our subject : — 



' The ordinary method of obtaining the perfume of flowers, 

 and one that has been employed for ages, is by distillation, a 

 process by which Ave may possess their sAveetness in Avinter, 

 when their beauty has passed aAvay. The odour of flowers is 

 due to a minute portion of a volatile oil, which is continually 

 generated and giA'en off by the plant. When the flowers are 

 distilled AA-^th Avater. the essential oil rises with the stearn. and 

 is condensed Avith it in the I'eceiver. But the fragrant 

 principle may be obtained in another way, which, as it re- 

 quires no apparatus, may furnish an agreeable recreation to 

 some of our readers who haA^e floAver gardens and plenty of 

 leisiu"'e. The sAveetness that Avould otherwise be wasted on 

 the summer air may thus be saved to delight the sense long- 

 after the blossoms that exhaled it ha v^e perished. 



