ROSE. 229 



" Eye of the garden, queen of flowers, 

 Love's cup, wherein nectarous power, 



Engendered first of nectar, 

 Sweet nurse-child of the spring's young hours, 



And beauty's fair character." 



The history of the Rose can be traced as far back as 

 two thousand years. Pliny, in his time, enumerated eve- 

 ral varieties; the one most cultivated then was the Cabbage 

 Rose, the one so common with us, which, notwithstanding 

 it is so old a favorite, still retains its merited standing in the 

 florist's garden. 



The Rose has been more extensively cultivated in 

 Egypt, and along the Ganges, in India, than with us ; 

 this probably may arise from the florist's occupation being 

 more divided here in the vast number of different plants in 

 cultivation. The Persians have been more attentive to 

 its culture than any other people, that is, to a particular 

 kind ; and we are indebted to that country for the cele- 

 brated Otto of Roses, an essential oil extracted from that 

 flower, which is imported into this and other countries as 

 a perfume. The smallness of the quantity extracted makes 

 it dear, and it may be known, when genuine, by its being 

 in a congealed state, apparently as if frozen ; the warmth of 

 the hand will restore it to a liquid state. A celebrated 

 traveller that has visited the Palaces in Persia, describes 

 the places like fairy land ; every piece of ground is studded 

 with these heavenly flowers, containing the most exquisite 

 perfume known, which is inhaled with every breath you 

 draw, while the eye is captivated with their innumerable 

 double flowers, surpassing all imagination ; neither is this 

 resplendent show confined to the gardens, but their rooms 



