EOSE. 423 



in Bulcjaria was very small, amountiiio' only to 1247 kilos. 

 Another 'authority estimated the total yield as 1309 kilos. 

 The 1893 rose crop in Bulgaria was nearly three weeks 

 late, and fears were naturally entertained of a diminished yield, 

 owing to the distillation taking place in a hotter period of the year 

 than usual. But contrary to all custom, cool weather, accompanied 

 by fre(|uent rain showers set in during the first days of June, when 

 the distillation was just commencing, and the flowers developed in 

 such abundance, that, in spite of the damage caused by the early 

 spring frosts, the crop turned out fully an average one, the otto- 

 production of the season being estimated at about 1,800 to 2,000 

 kilos. 



It will thus be seen that the climate in the Eose district south 

 of the Balkans is very uncertain, and, considering the very 

 valuable and profitable nature of the crop, it is advisable to seek 

 elsewhere a convenient locality for establishing such plantations. 

 Such localities possessing the requisite conditions of soil, aspect, 

 temperature and reliably uniform climate could doubtless be found 

 in many countries, notwithstanding the very misleading state- 

 ments made by Bulgarian distillers and merchants in their trade 

 circulars, statements which are of course made to guard their 

 monopoly and deter enterprising competitors from establishing this 

 industry elsewhere.* 



Scientific researches into the nature of utto of rose have recently 

 been made by Eeformatzky and Markovnikoff, who have examined 

 three samples sent to them by the Bulgarian Government. The 

 following is an abstract of the most important portions of their 

 paperf : — The oils turned the polarised ray of light to the left, as 

 follows — 3^ 34-5', 3^ 53' and 3^ 20'. The separation of oil and stere- 

 optene was effected by filtration at O'^ and at — 55°. From the 

 liquid portion a principal fraction with a boiling point of 222° to 

 222°-5 w^as next isolated by fractional distillation. The analysis of 

 a fraction boiling at 224°-? gave the formula C\oHoo 0. The 

 authors call the principal constituent, which possesses alcoholic 

 properties, " roseola From this roseol they prepared an acetic acid 



* Vide the " World's Fair " Circular of Shipkofi' & Co., Kezanlik ; re- 

 produced in " The Manufacturing Chemist," 20th January, 189-t. 



t Pharmaceutische Zischr. fiir Russland, xxxii. (1893), p. 102; and J. Russ, 

 Chem, Soc, xxiv., pp. 663-686. 



