GRASSE AND CANNES. 



151 



of Grasse. The other plants that are cultivated are the rose, ies7. 

 the jessamine (Jasminum grandiflorum, L.), mignonette (Reseda 

 odorata, L.), and tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa, L.). 



Cannes, a small town situated on the shore of the Mediter- Cannes, 

 ranean, about ten miles from Grasse, enjoys a climate still more 

 favoured. The orange is cultivated more extensively ; the rose, 

 jessamine, and other plants under culture at Grasse are like- 

 wise grown on a large scale at Cannes ; and in addition we 

 find the geranium (Pelargonium Radula, Ait., var. ft roseum) and 

 Cassie (Acacia Farnesiana, Willd.), the latter in considerable 

 abundance. 



Two species of orange are cultivated about Grasse and 

 Cannes, one known as the litter orange or bigaradier, the more 

 esteemed and more extensively grown, the other as the sweet 

 or Portugal orange. 



Orange-trees are grown in all the country in the neigh- Orange trees. 

 bourhood of Grasse, but especially in places in the vicinity 

 of the coast. When the season arrives, the flowers are col- 

 lected by itinerant agents called Commissionaires, who bring 

 them from the growers to the distillers, their remuneration 

 being the small commission of one sou per kilogramme, or 

 about \d per Ib. 



The finest Neroli and finest orange flower water are dis- 

 tilled from the flowers of the bigaradier. Inferior Neroli, not 

 worth more than half the price of the finest, is yielded by the 

 flowers of the sweet or Portugal orange. The essential oil Distillates. 

 called Essence de Petit Grain is distilled from the leaves of the 

 bigaradier : the distilled water mixed with that of the flowers, 

 is sold as an inferior quality of orange flower water. 



'Eoses are cultivated close to the town of Grasse, as well as 

 in all the country adjacent, often on a very small scale and in 

 situations apparently very arid. In the month of May the 

 flowers are collected daily, and brought by the growers to the 

 manufactories for sale. Provence 



The rose water of Provence is of very superior quality: 

 essential oil or otto of roses is separated from it after distilla- 

 tion. This otto differs from the Turkish, even from the purest 



