TUBEREUSE. 103 
Perfumes somewhat analogous to Mignonette have been noticed 
in the flower of the vine and in that of “ Henna.” 
TUBEREUSE, 
Polianthes tuberosa, flor pleno, sometimes called Hyacinthus 
tuberosus and Hyacinthus Indicus, is believed to be a native of the 
temperate regions of Mexico. 
The tuberous bulbs are annually imported into England from 
Genoa and from North America in very large quantities and grown 
under glass for the sake of the fragrance of their white flowers 
(which is most powerful at night), but, even with the help of 
artificial heat, the flowers do not attain such perfection of perfume 
as in the South of France, where the plant is largely cultivated in 
the open air. 
In the district of Grasse the roots are planted in April, being 
set 9 or 12 inches apart, in rows 2 feet apart. The land selected 
should he deep rich soil, as the roots penetrate downwards to a 
considerable depth in search of moisture. If cultivated on a dry 
soil the plants require well watering and manuring. The stems 
will bear 10 or 12 flowers, and under good cultivation even more. 
Each flower as it blooms is picked off. The harvesting for the 
factories takes place about the first week in July and lasts to the 
middle of October. There is a yield of flowers after this time, but 
it is only of service to the florist, the fragrance not being developed 
in sufficient strength to be of use to the manufacturer. In 
November the roots are taken out of the ground and packed away 
in dry sand to guard them from humidity and cold. Propagation 
is effected by offsets, which are produced in quantity. 
The produce of flower in good years amounts to about 2500 
kilos. per hectare. The perfume is extracted by the cold process 
of “ enfleurage.” 
