FRAGRANT LEAVES V. SWEET-SCENTED FLOWERS. 



139 



sistent — " ready if sought " seems to be their motto — and not only 

 are scented leaves fragrant when green and fresh, but often retain 

 their perfume long after they are yellow or brown and sere. Mr. 

 Hudson, of Gunnersbury, to whom I am indebted for a collection 

 of scented Gerania, &c, to-day, tells me that the old yellow or 

 brown leaves of these charming plants are sweeter even than 

 the fresh ones. This is doubtless owing to the water of the 

 leaves having evaporated, thus leaving behind the essential oils 

 in a more concentrated form. This permanency of odour is a 

 strong recommendation, and no greenhouse or conservatory or 

 boudoir need be wanting in delicate perfume if plenty of sweet- 

 leaved plants are grown. 



Pekfumes, Various, Healthy or Injurious. 



Somebody has said that the whole world is divided into those 

 people who like dogs and horses and those people who dislike 

 horses or dogs. Well, it is somewhat similar in the case of 

 perfumes. Some folks enjoy them, while others say that they 

 dislike them ; and to some few people, especially to vocalists, 

 some particular perfumes are actually not only repellent but 

 injurious. This is even true in the world of animals and insects, 

 as we all well know. Thus cats love Cat-mint, Valerian, and 

 Nemophila. Dogs like Chenopodium Vulvaria. 



Nearly all cattle love Fenugreek in their food or forage. The 

 perfume of Lavender, Rosemary, Cloves, Cinnamon, or Camphor 

 is most deterrent or offensive to moths; hence we constantly use 

 them in our linen closets or drawers and wardrobes in which 

 furs &c. are stored. In the tropics I found that Camphor-wood 

 chests were the only receptacles (other than close-fitting tin 

 cases) that defied the ravages of the termites, or so-called white 

 ants ; and even the hungry mosquito may be kept at bay by 

 torches composed of Dammer-gum and Camphor combined. So 

 we see there are two sides to the shield — two sides to the 

 perfume question mostly attractive, but sometimes deterrent or 

 repellent to both mice and men. Nor need we wonder at this 

 when we observe how widely dissimilar men really are. Socrates 

 objected to perfumes, and that may have been the reason 

 Xantippe objected to him. Can you imagine William of 

 Normandy or Oliver Cromwell or John Knox with scented 

 handkerchiefs ? Of course not. Nor can you imagine Charles II. 



