SWEET-SMELLING PLANTS 



6i 



Shenstone's lines must have come most truly from his heart : — 



' Come, gentle air ! and while the thickets bloom 



Convey the Jasmine's breatli divine. 

 Convey the Woodbine's rich perfume, 

 Nor spare the sweet-leaved Eglantine.' 



Miss Landon daintily portrays its beauty thus : — 



' Jasmines — lilce some silver spray, 

 Some like gold in the morning gray, 

 Fragrant stars, and favourites they.' 



' Oh, the faint, sweet smell of the Jasmine flower.' — Lord Lytton. 



It seems a remarkable fact that from the odours already known, 

 says Mr. Piesse, the smell of any flower may be produced by 

 uniting their essences in proper proportion, except the Jasmine ; 

 and in this connection Charles Dickens in Household Words 

 observes: — 'Is Jasmine then the mystical Morn — the centre, the 

 Delphi, the Omphalos of the floral world? Is it the point of 

 departure, the one unapproachable and indivisible unit of frag- 

 rance ? Is Jasmine the Isis of flowers, with veiled face and covered 

 feet, to be loved of all yet discovered by none ? Beautiful Jasmine ! 

 If it be so, the Rose ought to be dethroned and the Inimitable 

 enthroned in her stead ; suppose we create a civil war among the 

 gardens and crown the Jasmine empress and queen of all.' 

 Jonesia Asoca. — An Indian flowering evergreen tree, with orange- 

 scarlet blossoms that are sweet-scented. During the Hindu festi- 

 vals the women decorate their jet-black hair with bunches of this 

 elegant flower, and it is impossible to imagine a more delightful 

 efi'ect. 



Jonquil. See Narcissus. 



Juglans regia {Walnut).— A. deciduous fruiting tree from South 

 Europe, now acclimatised in England. The leaves possess a 

 peculiar smell, particularly noticeable when they are bruised ; and 

 it is said this aroma is injurious to sensitive people. 



Juniperus Sabina (Savin). — This shrubby bush has a distinct and 

 powerful odour in common with many of the Coniferce, and 

 it is worthy of special mention, because it comes in admirably 

 amongst our subjects, whilst in its graceful, plumy style of growth 

 and spreading habit it diff'ers so much from its kindred. It 

 can be planted in large groups near much-frequented spots, as 

 its low growth keeps it within bounds, w^hilst banks and stony 

 slopes clothed in its perpetual verdure are adorned most grace- 

 fully- 



