THE ODOUR OF ROSE. 49 
The odour of rose has been noticed in the double rose-coloured 
flowers of the Peonia albiflora var. fragrans, a handsome shrub of 
about three feet in height, native of the north of China*. The 
flowers of Peonia albiflora var. Whitleji, when on the point of falling 
from the tree, emit a scent somewhat like that of elder-flowers +. 
The flowers of Chamedorea fragrans, a native of Bolivia, have 
the odour of the Maréchal Niel rose. 
There are several artificial preparations known in Chemistry 
possessing an odour somewhat like Rose and Rose-Geranium, for 
instance :— 
Ammonium salicylite—By agitating salicylol (oil of Spirea 
Ulmaria) with strong aqueous ammonia at a gentle heat it erystal- 
lizes on cooling in yellow needles. It is slightly soluble in cold 
water, still less in alcohol, melts at 115°, and volatilizes without 
alteration at a higher temperature. When kept in a moist state 
in aclosed vessel, it gradually decomposes, blackens, becomes semi- 
fluid, gives off ammonia, and acquires a very penetrating odour of 
roses t. Calcium salicylite, after being kept for a time and then 
distilled with water, is said to give the same result ; and an aqueous 
distillate faintly approaching it results from treating methy] sali- 
cylate (oil of Gaultheria procumbens) with caustic potash. 
The name Methylbenzylenic ether was applied by Wicke § to a 
compound having a geranium odour prepared as follows :—“< A 
mixture of one atom of chloride of benzylene with a solution of 
two atoms of sodium in absolute methylic alcohol is heated for 
some hours, when sodium chloride separates in abundance, the 
methylic alcohol is distilled off, and the residue mixed with water, 
when the ether rises to the surface and is removed with a pipette, 
dried, and rectified. It is a transparent colourless liquid, heavier 
than water, soluble in alcohol or ether. It boils at 208° C., leaving 
a brown residue arising from decomposition. 
Phenyl paratoluate.—Paratoluic acid is prepared by the oxida- 
tion of cimene with nitric acid. The cymene which is contained 
in Roman cumin oil, and which can easily be obtained from cam- 
phor, is heated for a considerable time in an apparatus connected 
with an inverted condenser with a mixture of one volume of nitric 
* Anderson, in Linn. Trans. xii. p. 260; Bot. Reg. p. 485; Hort. Trans, ii. t. 18. 
+ Anderson, Linn. Trans. xii. p. 259, and Bot. Rep. p. 612. 
¢ Ann. Chem. Pharm. xxix. p. 309. § Ibid. cil. p. 356. 
E 
