SWEET-SMELLING PLANTS 



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the prevalent idea is that it arose at the time of the Pkgiie in 

 London. The same custom prevailed many years ago in the Law 

 and Criminal Conrts, in the latter case as a preventive against 

 gaol fever. Dickens refers to it in his ' Two Cities ' ; the scene is 

 laid at Newgate in 1775. A few sprigs of Rue hung in a room 

 will keep away flies from the apartment. 

 Rutosma Texana.— An herbaceous plant with strong-smelling leaves. 



Salpianthus fragrans. — An evergreen seaside shrub from Chili, with 



white-orange flowers. 

 Salvertia convallariodora. — A shrubby Brazilian tree, bearing white 



paniculate floAvers, emitting a most delightful scent resembling that 



of Lily of the Valley. 

 Salix pentandra. — A British Willow, with fragrant foliage. 

 Salvia. — A genus of shrubby herbaceous plants, of which the common 



Sage is a member ; their native habitat is mostly Soutli Europe ; 



some, however, are found in Asia, and a few in Xorth America. 



S. glutinom possesses scented attractions, for both its flowers and 



foliage exhale a pleasant odour, whilst the leaA'es of rufilans are 



delightfully fragrant of the Pineapple. 

 Sambucus (Elder). — A common British deciduous shrubby tree, 



teeming with grandmotherly traditions and superstitions ; its 



flowers possess a honeydike scent, and a country wine is made 



from the berries. 



'Another sweet perfume, but tliat I know well, 

 'Tis the Elder-flower's luscious and honey-rich smell.' — Twamley. 



Samyda suaveolens. — A Brazilian forest tree, with white, deliciously 

 scented flowers, recalling the odour of Orange-blossoms. 



Santolina chamaecyparissus [Lavender Cotton). — This shrubby plant 

 from Southern Europe, common in British gardens, is very like the 

 Lavender in the effect it produces, being of a similar soft grey 

 colour, but happily it flourishes where Lavender would fail. It 

 makes a big, spreading, dense bush, and if it overgrows its situa- 

 tion it will bear cutting back with mipunity. It is showy when in 

 bloom, having large composite flowers of a rich yellow colour. The 

 whole plant gives off a strong but agreeable odour, and is often used 

 in the country for placing in wardrobes to keep away the moth. 



Saponaria officinalis {Soapicort). — A common British plant, bearing 

 delicate rose-coloured flowers. 



Sarcostemma. — A family of tropical shrubs, often climbers, with 

 strongly-scented flowers. 



Satureia. — The Savory of the herb-garden, esteemed for its powerful 

 aromatic flavour. 



