Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 469 



Rosa centifolia, Linne.* 



The Cabbage-Rose, Moss-Rose, Provence-Rose. Indigenous on 

 the Caucasus and seemingly also in other parts of the Orient, or 

 originated rather as a garden-form from Rosa Gallica [Regel, 

 Crepin]. It will endure the frosts of Norway as far north as lat. 

 70 [Schuebeler]. Much grown in South-Europe and Southern 

 Asia for the distillation of rose-water and oil or attar of roses. 

 The variety R. provincialis (Alton) is especially esteemed. No 

 pruning is resorted to, only the dead branches are removed; the 

 harvest of flowers is from the middle of May till nearly the middle of 

 June; the gathering takes place before sunrise [Simmonds]. From 

 12,000 to 16,000 roses, or from 250 Ibs. to 300 Ibs. of rose petals, are 

 required according to some calculations for producing a single ounce 

 of attar through ordinary distillation. The flowers require to be cut 

 just before expansion ; the calyx is separated and rejected ; the re- 

 maining portions of the flowers are then subjected to aqueous distilla- 

 tion, and the saturated rose-water so obtained is repeatedly used for 

 renewed distillation, when on any cold place the oil separates from 

 the overcharged water and floats on the surface, whence it can be 

 collected after refrigeration by fine birds' feathers. Rose-oil consists 

 of a hydro-carbon stearopten, which is scentless, and an elaeopten, 

 which is the fragrant principle. But some other methods might be 

 employed for producing the oil ; for instance, it may be got by dis- 

 tilling the rosebuds without water at the heat of a water-bath, or by 

 merely passing steam through the still. The odor might also be 

 withdrawn by alcoholic distillation from the roses or be extracted by 

 the "enfleurage" process. The latter is effected by placing the 

 flowers, collected while the weather is warm, into shallow frames 

 covered with a glass-plate, on the inner side of which a pure fatty 

 substance has been thinly spread. The scent of the flowers is absorbed 

 by the adipose or oleous substance, though the blossoms do not come 

 in direct contact with it ; fresh flowers are supplied daily for weeks. 

 The scent is finally withdrawn from its matrix by maceration with 

 pure alcohol. Purified eucalyptus-oil can be used for diluting rose- 

 oil, when it is required for the preparation of scented soap. The 

 essential oil of orange-peel might similarly be employed as a vehicle. 

 The " Revue Agricole " lately stated, that from various kinds of 

 Roses about 30 million Ibs. of flowers are annually gathered for 

 oil-distillation in Southern France, the price being 2d. to 2^d. a Ib. 



Rosa Damascena, Miller.* 



Orient. Allied to the preceding and the following species ; also 

 largely used for the production of essential oil of roses. The par-? 

 ticular varieties used in Turkey are called by Dr. Dieck trigintipetala 

 and Byzantina ; the latter grows easily from cuttings and produces 

 long snoots, the former is flowering still richer even in Germany, both 

 have through him become articles of horticultural commerce. Prof. 

 Crepin reduces R. Damasceua to R. Gallica. According to Dr. G. 

 Dieck R. alba (Linne) is also a variety of this or a hybrid with 



