xxxiv 



FLORA ODOR AT A 



Now, Western India is, both in Parsee and Hindu, as in 

 English gardens, ^a ^rilderness of scented Eoses.' 



The renowned gardens of Patna "were charming and exten- 

 sive, and the ancient cemeteries of this city appear to have 

 all been tastefully decorated with odorous flowers. 



' Fond maids, the chosen of their hearts to please, 

 Entwine their ears with sweet Sirisha flowers, 

 Whose fragrant lips attract the kiss of bees, 

 That softly murmur through the summer hours.' 



It would take up far too much space to name all the other 

 plants T\dth scented attractions that have, since the time of 

 Fryer, gradually become thoroughly naturalised in India, and 

 are now cultivated as important commercial commodities. 

 In this connection, the Troxncal Agriculturist recommends, 

 in addition to Eoses, Jasmine, and Orange blossoms, that 

 ' Lavender and Violets, with other strongly-scented flowers, 

 will grow luxuriantly in all the hill-tracts of India, but though 

 showing greater vigour under the brilliant tropical sunlight 

 of the more southern mountain ranges as far as growth goes, 

 will be found more deficient in strength than their congeners 

 grown in the semi-tropical and more temperate northern lati- 

 tudes. Both plants we have adduced as pioneer perfume-pro- 

 ducers are sub-tropical in origin, though, from their hardiness, 

 they have been acclimatised in countries which, one would 

 have thought, gave not the slightest hope of their thriving. 

 Suitable tracts for the propagation of all plants are best in- 

 dicated by observation of the indigenous flora, and Avherever 

 such is found at all approaching that of Europe, reasonable 

 hopes of success in the introduction of the two plants named 

 may be anticipated. Now, as the flora indicated extends all 

 through the outer Himalayas, it will be seen over what a 

 vast field scent-producing plants may be propagated, for 



