xl 



FLORA ODORATA 



In America the wedding or bridal bell is now considered 

 almost as indispensable as the ceremony ; it is composed of 

 pure white sweet-scented flowers in which the Tuberose and 

 Carnation take a leading part. 



A great many of the Californian flowers are very fragrant, 

 the Syringa family being conspicuous in this respect, these 

 flowers, emitting the pleasant odour peculiar to their kind, 

 oppress the air for a long way round Avith a rich and delicious 

 perfume. 



Although Australia produces plenty of sweet-scented flowers 

 and plants, and whole forests of trees with fragrant leaves, the 

 natives of the Antipodes do not appear to have realised any 

 great pleasure from them beyond their usefulness in embalm- 

 ing the dead. Now, however, where we find these important 

 countries largely colonised by our own kith and kin, we see 

 dainty products thriving in every direction, and the cultiva- 

 tion of perfumed plants for the production of scent is fast 

 becoming a great industry both in Victoria and New South 

 Wales. 



In New Zealand, embalming the bodies of the chiefs with 

 flowers and sweet-smelling herbs has been practised for 

 generations, but now these islands are so closely associated 

 Avith everything that is British that they know as much of 

 fragrant plants as we do at home. 



Sir Walter Scott tells us that 



' The Myrtle bough bids lovers die,' 



and, in the language of flowers, a sprig of Hawthorn has the 

 same meaning as a spray of Myrtle, the sweet Heliotrope the 

 depth of his passion ; poor Ophelia gives Rosemary for remem- 

 brance; Bergamot and Jessamine imply the fragrance of friend- 

 ship, the Primrose is the emblem of the spring of human life, 



