276 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
Whenever a still is named, or the article is said to be distilled 
or “ drawn,” it must be understood to be drawn so by steam appa- 
ratus ; and this is the only mode which can be adopted for obtaining 
anything like a delicate odour, the old plan of having the fire imme- 
diately under the still, couveying an empyreumatic smell to the 
result, has become obsolete in every well-regulated perfumatory. 
The steam-still differs from the one described only in the lower part, 
or pan, which is made double, so as to allow steam from a boiler 
to circulate round the pan for the purpose of boiling the contents, 
instead of the direct fire. Iu macerating, the heat is applied in the 
same way, or by a contrivance like the glue-pot, as made use of 
now-a-days. 
This description of apparatus will be found very useful for experi- 
ments, which we will suggest by-and-by. 
The perfumes, as found in the shops of Paris and London, are 
either simple or compound ; the former are called Extracts, and the 
latter Bouquets, which are mixtures of the extracts, so compounded 
in quantity that no one flower can be discovered as predominating 
over the odour of another ; and when made of the delicate-scented 
flowers, carefully blended, they produce an exquisite sensation on 
the olfactory nerves, and are therefore much prized by those whose 
wealth enables them to indulge in such pleasures. 
EARLY HYACINTHS. 
HEN the first of September arrives, .and the fields have 
jij yielded up their produce to the ricks and barns, the 
observer of Nature begins to catch, as from a distance, 
the signs of the approach of winter. The breath of 
morn has a different character, and evening pours down 
colder dews. Leaves become sere and yellow, and, falling at our 
feet, remind us that their work is done, and that very soon the 
branches from which they have been driven will be completely bare. 
To th.e gardener who loves his occupation still more numerous and 
painful premonitions are conveyed of the decay of his favourites. 
For, although the flow r er-garden is now more beautiful than ever, he 
knows that loveliness is no guarantee of perpetuity. A frosty 
morning will soon turn all this sparkling scene to blackness, leaving 
nothing behind but withered foliage and unsightly stems. 
“ Lover, trust not to her eyes, 
When they sparkle most, she dies ! ” 
But the amateur will be cheered with the reflection that, as the 
revolving seasons consign one part of Nature’s works to decay, they 
call into existence new beauties, and that even winter will be graced 
with a floral wreath. Among the flowers composing this wintry 
garland the hyacinth is conspicuous, and its admirers should imme- 
diately commence its cultivation. The most frequent cause of failure 
