Ssa 81.] 



THE FLOWER-GARDEX. 



513 



acacia ; tlie latter for the sensitive, otliereal i)orfuinc8 of the jesgainine, tulxv 

 rose, jonquil, ami all tlio'biilbous trihc, which will not endure tho applica- 

 tion of even a moderate degree of heat. 



" And first, by infusion ; about 100 kilogrammes of the pomade body are 

 put into a tin-plaiiisiied copper water-batli, molted at a low temperature, a!:d 

 charged, at daybreak, witii a ci'rtain tpiantity of the freshly gathered tlow- 

 ers, which are stirred constantly during the day and night, tiio mass l>cing 

 kept only warm enough to maiiituim a semi-flfiid state. AlxMit midnight it 

 is removed from the fire, put into strong l)ag8 made of fi^h-cord, and 6ul>- 

 jccted to heavy pressure in large, perforated, vertical iron cylindcre, stand- 

 ing on marble bod-plates, which are gently warmed to prevent the eongf- 

 hition of the exuding mass. Xext morning fresh leaves are added, antl tho 

 process repeated daily until the desired strcngtii of ]>erfumo is obtained, 

 when the pomade is put into cylindrical tin boxes and sealed np for i.hii>- 

 ment. The oils are treated in like manner, but are filtered instead of pre.--e.|. 



"In preparing the oils, coarse, heavy, Pi)ongy cotton cloths, made es|HH"ially 

 for this purpose at Marseilles, arc saturated with oil and spread upon the 

 netted frames ; flowers arc tiien strewn thickly ui)on them, and they are 

 jiiled np in like manner as tho pomades. When sufticiently charge«l with 

 odor, the oil is expressed from the cloths by j^owerful levers. 



" Many hundred-weight of flowers and herbs are dried aniuially, and are 

 v.'iriously used in tho healing art, and iti tiie composition of scent-bag», 

 cachous, fuming pastils for the sick chamber, and kindred compound'* <>f tho 

 perfumer's art. 



"The Parmezan, or double violet, is grown under the shade of trei-s, ami 

 yields a delicate and delightful perfume. It was the favorite t>d<'r of tiie 

 Athenians under Pericles, and is now tjio fashionable scent of tho Parisian 

 lean monile. 



"The flower farms receive the highest culture; tindcr-ilraining i* not 

 practiced, but great attention is paid to irrigation. Some fields have a ctitn- 

 pletc network of irrigating tubes substantially laid in cement. A constant 

 warfare is waged upon insects, eacli plunt having, a* witli us, its pet l«>rer, 

 o-rub, or bug, and ' eternal vigilance is the price' of succeiw. The lieat in 

 summer is intense, though tempered by the sea breeze, and tho winter i» ni 

 times as rigorous as in Wa.-hingtun or Kichmoml. 



" Labor costs, per day, 35 to 40 cents for nudes, and 15 cent* for femiil.-<." 



There is no other reason than that contained in the last sentence why flower 

 farms can not be estal)lishcd iu this country as well as Franco. Tito que*- 

 tion rests entirely upon the cost of labor. 



.'579. Soil for Flowrrs— Compost for I'otllue— Prolfctius from lu>rrt>. -All 

 flowers ro.p.iro a deep, rieh. well-draine.l soil, and that should bo annually 



fertilized with a line compost, in which w I's earth or leaf-mold j.r.Mo,,,- 



inatcs. The following directions of a practical pnnlener, though g.v.u 

 mostlv in reference to potting plants, will bo fonn.l n»oful, tho wmo w.l 

 being good for flower-beds, particularly for an annual drcwing. 



