SWEET-SMELLING PLANTS 



The Count transferred his affections to Charlotte, and when he 

 married her he added a branch of the sweet Reseda to the ancient 

 arms of his family, repeating this motto. 



Since the Mignonette has been cultivated in this country several 

 fine varieties have been obtained. The flowers, originally greyish- 

 white with red stamens, have given place to fine white, red, and 

 yellow-flowered varieties, that when well grown in good soil pro- 

 duce very fine spikes of bloom deliciouslj^ sweet. A small patch 

 of Mignonette will be sufficient to fill the whole garden with fra- 

 grance like a stream of rich distilled perfumes. A sprig or two 

 of Mignonette amongst the table decorations, or in a bouquet, 

 has a rer}^ refreshing appearance. 

 Retama monosperma. — A Spanish sand shrub, with odoriferous 

 flowers. 



Rhaphistemma pulchellum. — An Indian climber, bearing large racemes 



of straw-coloured, sweet-scented flowers. 

 Rhaponticum acaulis. — A peremiial herbaceous plant — native of 



Algiers — bearmg large heads of golden thistle-like flowers, smelling 



like the Acacia. 



Rhododendron. — A genus of remarkably handsome shrubs that have 

 long been favourites in British gardens. Then* native habitats are 

 almost world-wide, but the hardier kinds are generally confined to 

 the temperate zone, whilst some of the more delicate sorts are 

 thoroughly tropical. Experts have greatly improved the whole 

 family by means of hybridisation and cross-fertilisation, so that 

 many exquisite kmds are now available that possess deliciously- 

 scented attractions. The flowers of B. Ed<ju:ortliii, Avhite and pink, 

 are so fragrant that a few are sufiicient to perfume a large room ; and 

 this dainty variety may be taken as a type of the beauties of the 

 greenhouse class, such as B, jasmincefiorum, B. albescens^ B. Lady 

 Skelmersdale, B, Countess of Derby, B. Countess of DaUceith, B. 

 Countess of Haddington, B. Duchess of BucdeucJi, B. fragrantissi- 

 mum, B. Sesferianum. B. Dennisonn, B. suave. B. arhorescens, B. 

 Colhttmnum, B. viscosum, B. Princess Alice, and B. 2Idme. Cuvelier. 



Rhodora Canadensis. — An ornamental slu^ub from Xorth America, 

 bearing purple sweet-scented flowers, very similar to the hardy 

 Azalea. 



Rhodorrhiza scoparius.— A Convolvulus-like plant from the Canary 

 Islands, possessing in its stems and leaves the scent of Roses, and 

 from which a powerfully odorous oil is extracted, largely employed 

 to adulterate Otto of Roses. 



Rhynchospermum jasminioides. — A Chinese climber which requires 

 greenhouse treatment in this country. It bears in great profusion 



