47< 



Journal of Agnciiltiirc , Victoria. [lo Aug., 191 3. 



SMALL ill KAL INDUSTRIES. 



0.— ROSE CULTIVATION. 



By JosC'p/i Knight. 



Possibly there is no plant grown which is more popular than the rose, 

 nor any perfume produced which finds more favour than the Oil of Rose, 

 or, as it is generally known, " Attar of Roses." 



Its cultivation is simple. If grown under healthy conditions, the plant 

 adapts itself to almost any soil or climate, and there is but little trouble 

 with insect and fungoid pests. 



The work of 

 gathering the 

 flowers lasts but a 

 few weeks — gener- 

 allv from four to 

 five — after which 

 the plant may be 

 left to itself. ' All 

 that is necessary is 

 to i)rune in the 

 autumn, and culti- 

 vate the soil suffi- 

 ciently to keep 

 weeds in check. 

 It takes about 4 

 tons of blooms to 

 make i lb. of oil, 

 and the present 

 wholesale price of 

 the oil in JNIelbourne 

 is ;2^3 per oz.. or 

 ^48 per lb. It is 

 well, therefore to 

 look whether regular 

 labour can be ob- 

 tained to gather the 

 blooms every se- 

 cond day, as this 

 is necessary to en- 

 sure success. The 

 work is light, and where the united efforts of a family mav be utilized, rose 

 cultivation has much to recommend it. This brief paper is written as a 

 guide to those who wish to give rose-growing for essential oil production 

 a trial. 



Varieties Suitable. 



In dealing with this (]uestion, only those which have been tested in 

 this State, and found to be satisfactory, will be considered. 



The late Mr. F. Mellon, who had experience of essential oil production 

 in the South of France, was employed many years ago by the Department 

 to establish a Scent Farm, and provide plants. He introduced the variety 



ROSA CENTIFOLIA (PROVENCE ROSE). 



