Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-14

Il became connected with the manufacture
OF perfumery IS unknown, but Il has been
employed in that industry for centuries.
Only recently has its origin become known.
II is nothing moro than the morbid So
erection OF the liver OF n sick rmace
whale. II Is described as being a waNy
substance disagreesble to sight and touch.
but even in It's crude state giving off a
pleasant odor. It is subjected to chemical
action TO extract the part called amberina.
The largest price on record as having
been paid for ambergrls was $500 for a
mass Weighing 1O pounds. which was
found on the Windward Islands.
In New York City the Plant. Flower and
Fruit Guild Is doing much toward cuitivat-
ing a love OF nature among the poor aud
sick. This organisation has been working
for a number Of years. and with little or
no capital has been accomplishing splendid
results. One reason for this is because
outside people have aided the cause. The
first purpose was TO systematic the dis
tribution Of the flowers among the sick
and poor, but this has grown into the larger
field OF endeavoring to awaken a love OF
nature and OF civic improvement among
the people. Tho flowers come from many
voluntary sources. the wild blossoms gath
wv ~ eHN NNNhNAH btAAh eAAo ny SluD
with those used at the social functions Of
the four hundred
Another help has come from the express
companies. who have issued labels allow
ing free transportation within a radius OF
100 miles for all boxes Of flowers or plants
not Weighing over twenty pounds. over
1000 window boxes have been distributed
among the tenement dwellers and out of
this number only two or three died for
want of care. The number OF boquets rakr
ceived daily by the guild runs as high
as 1000, and the number Of institutions
which receive these floral offerings arc
about $50. Not only has joy and happiness
entered into the lie OF the poor, but many
children have been taught the lesson OF
helpfulness, In many small towns there are
gardens being tended by children for the
exclusive use Of the guild.
Many queer things are to be encountered
in nature. Gas can be weighed, but the
wisest scientist has not been able to weigh
scent. A grain of musk has been kept ex-
posed in a room to which the air has had
free access for ten years, and during all OF
this time the air, though constantly
changed. was thoroughly impregnated with
the odor. The most remarkable point I'm
connection with this experiment was that
N NN Va Nh1N hAAAAO Nh0 pdIAANlb OF uluhk
had not sensibly Diminished In weigh
Perfumes are claimed to be both in
furious and beneficial. In several cases
singers and public speakers have been
troubled with throat affections which they
discovered were caused by violet perfume.
1t Is claimed that as long as a flower has
any odor whatever It is injurious, and that
the violet L. the greatest offender. On the
other hand, a Latin writer has nut on
record 100 perfume remedies for various
diseases, and the violet figures most
prominently in his list. Lavender is said
to be soothing. and 1t is claimed that the
lavended scented sheets Of our grand
mothers were splendid sleep producers,
Jasmine is said to be good as a general
tonic.
Another instance in which nature has
demonstrated her cleverness is that of the
Spanish bayonet. which is so abundant on
the mountain slopes and foothills Of Cali
fornia- The stalk grows to the height of
about fifteen feet, and acquires a diameter
OF from six TO eight inches. On a single
one OF these stalks as many as 5000 bios
SONS may be seen. These flowers are SO
constructed as to make self fertilization
seem impossible, and scientists believe that
this service is performed for the plants bv
a small white moth which makes nocturnal
visits This little insect goes to one flower
and accumulates the pollen by rolling If
into a little ball with its feet. Thus laden
the moth flies away to another bloom and
deposits its load.
The Department Of Agriculture has made
several successful experiments with the
poppy as a source Of opium. These were
tried in Vermont, California and Texas. the
best results being obtained in the first
named state. 1t was found that morphine
could be directly obtained from the poppy.
This plant can readily be grown in the IN
land regions skirting the Appalachian
range and those adjoining the Rocky
mountains. The value of such an industry
IN this country can be readily realized
when It is understood that the annual cost
Of the importation OF opium into this
country is over 81 100000.
ny FREDERIC j. HAsK1Ns.