New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-11
AROMATIC HERBS.

P. t. E. CPittsburg Kan): Why do some
plants emit fragrance? OF what use can the
fragrance be to the plant?
For two reasons or the blossoms Of such
plants we know that they emit fragrance In
order TO attract the insects upon which. be-
sides the honey they offer them. they saddle
the fructifying pollen to carry to other blos-
SONS that the plant may propagate its kind
Whether the blossoms know this as we'll as the
scientists who found it out by close observation
is still unsettled question for the plants have
neither brains nor nerves and are deprived Of
anything resembling an organ of thought There
are however, herbS-such thyme, various
kinds OF mint, the garden sage, lavender, etc
whose leaves also contain strong odoriferous
substances. and this for quite different rea-
son. In an unimpaired condition they emit only
faint odor. but have their leaves
been injured than their odor becomes strong.
This goes TO show that these herbs care little as
to how their blossoms send their fragrance into
the distance TO attract guests 1t Is also 10
be noted that with these plants the odor is
rather strong than pleasant The leaves of
these herbs contain fnnumerable little glands in
which the plant deposits the volatile oil which
water carbonic acid and anything offered by
the ground. Now. most animals dislike the
odor Of etheric oils. Dogs and cats. for instance.
abhor the perfumes made of volatile oils and
alcohol that so much liked by humans. With
OIL of turpentine. oil of cloves, camphor one can
drlVe away all kinds of insects and worms.
Now. many plants provide their leaves with
thousands of minute oil magazines for the very
reason that these oils are repugnant to the ami
Thyme, garden sage, mint. and the Ike are
spared by the pasturing cattle. while scentless
herbs are all grazed off the ground. Once a COW
has tasted OF these herbs 1t never wants them
again. The etheric oils prick and burn. and
trritate the nerves OF taste and odor to such an
extent as to compel the animal to expectorate
the leaf bitten off, and TO avoid the repugnant
odor. And this is exactly what the plant in
tends with its oil. It wants to keep the animal
away and to be left unmolestsd in the future.
To be sure, there to be law of nature
that the vegetable world should serve as food
to the animal Many plants indeed suffer them
selves TO be eaten without offering resistance.
compelled To obey the law. Many plants. how
themselves, and. not being able to run away
from their enemy they arm themselves with all
kinds OF weapons. such as stings and thorns.
prickling hairs and various coats Of mail. But
where these weapons prove insufficient they
charge their leaves with bitter substances. poi
sons and the burning etheTic oils. in order to
ward off the enemy, until they have succeeded In
spreading fear and have secured their progeny.
That the aromatic herbs prepare the etheric
oils. store them away in numerous magazines
and drive their enemies away with them. just
the Chinese, before knowing guns used
TO repel their aggreSSOTs with their stink pots
has gradually been revealed to the men Of sci
ence, who confess that these plants. with their
art. excel by far chemists and engineers
But whence these mute. helpless plants derived
such skill they cannot tell The scientific stock
phrases OF adaptation and heredity not suf-
hcient TO account for IT,