xxxvi 



FLORA ODORATA 



flowers placed in their land by bountiful Nature, that have 

 in all generations been much sought after for decorative pur- 

 poses. It is reported by their great teacher Confucius, that 

 upon certain state ceremonies, when flowers were scattered 

 about, their sweet fragrance would permeate the atmosphere. 



The chief floral festival of the Chinese is upon their New 

 Year's Day, when the rivers are covered with boats, decorated 

 with scented flowers, and their homes and temples richly hung 

 mth festoons of deliciously perfumed blossoms. 



Boughs in blossom of the Peach and Plum, flowers of the 

 Magnolia, Lily, Jessamine, Narcissus, and Jonquil, are on 

 sale in every direction. Even the Chinese ladies, who are 

 rarely visible at any other season, are drawn out by the sweet 

 aromas dispensed around. 



One of the finest traits of the Chinese character is their 

 fondness for beautiful flowers, and their greatest pleasure is 

 to form their gardens with walks leading to some delightful 

 spot, through groves of the Orange, Myrtle, Eose, Honey- 

 suckle, and Jessamine, to dainty arbours on the banks of tiny 

 rivulets, cooled by the fragrant breeze imparted by the mass 

 of bloom. 



Although the early dwellers of Britain appeared to value 

 the numerous aromatic herbs indigenous to the soil, to cure 

 their wounds, beautify the charms of the fair, or the burning 

 of fragrant substances in their religious rites, they have left 

 no records of their customs in the use of scented floAvers, 

 possibly because so few of these beautiful tributes of Nature 

 were known in the countrj^ at the time. 



During the period of the Crusades, and before carpets 

 came into use, sweet rushes and dried flowers from the fields 

 were strewn on the floor, which spread a pleasing fragrance 

 through the atmosphere. The following lines from a book 



